The phrase “Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate” became one of the most repeated lines of the 2025 season for fans of the Atlanta Braves. It mixed concern about Marcell Ozuna’s aging power bat, frustration with a disappointing year, and curiosity about how a long, expensive deal might end. For months, people treated waivers or a release as if they were almost guaranteed.
Yet when the dust settled, the story followed a quieter path: his contract expired at the end of the 2025 season, he became a free agent, and in February 2026 he agreed to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates worth $12 million, with a mutual option for 2027. To understand what really happened and what it means now, it helps to separate rumor from record and look at the full arc of his time in Atlanta.
Why People Started Calling Him a Waiver Candidate
Talk about the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate situation was fueled by timing as much as anything. The Braves’ 2025 club missed the postseason and looked far less dominant than the teams that had run through the National League earlier in the decade. At the same time, Ozuna, in his mid-30s and in the final season of a four-year, $64 million agreement, hit .232 with 21 home runs and 68 RBIs over 145 games, posting a mid-.700s OPS that was helpful but no longer elite.
Those numbers were not disastrous, but they were a clear step down from his best work. When an older slugger on a big salary underperforms for a team that falls short, speculation almost writes itself. Waivers became the buzzword attached to his name, even before anyone checked whether the team had actually used that mechanism.
What Waivers Would Have Actually Meant
Part of why the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate phrase sounded so dramatic is that waivers are a serious step for a veteran with a guaranteed contract. When a team places a player on outright waivers, every other club has a chance to claim him and take on what remains of his deal; the claiming team must add him to its 40-man roster and assume the salary. If no one claims him, the original team can then explore options like releasing him or removing him from the roster, depending on the rules and service time.
For a player with minor-league options, these moves can happen quietly. For someone like Ozuna, waivers would have been a loud public signal that Atlanta was ready to move on for little or no return. That is why the idea felt so heavy even at the rumor stage.
Quick Overview: Braves vs. Pirates Situation
Before digging into the details, here is a simple table that lays out Ozuna’s situation with the Braves and what his move to the Pirates represents.
| Aspect | With Atlanta Braves (Up to 2025) | With Pittsburgh Pirates (Starting 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Contract Status | Four-year deal worth about $64 million, expiring after 2025 | One-year contract worth $12 million, mutual option for 2027 |
| Team Role | Middle-of-the-order bat, mostly designated hitter | Expected to be primary designated hitter and run producer |
| Performance Trend | From elite slugger to solid but less dominant | Fresh chance to prove he still has high-level power |
| Fan and Media Narrative | “Waiver candidate,” mixed feelings because of off-field issues | “Prove-it veteran,” focus on what he can still do now |
| Impact on Team | Took up a big share of payroll and DH at-bats | Adds power to a lineup that needs more home runs |
| Effect When He Left Braves | Freed salary space and lineup flexibility | Gave Ozuna a reset and a clean slate in a new city |
This table captures the core idea: the Braves chapter closed in a normal way when his contract ended, and a new chapter started in Pittsburgh, where the focus is less on waivers and more on what he can still offer.
The Contract Timeline That Changed the Ending
The fine print of his agreement is the main reason the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate story never turned into an official move. Ozuna re-signed with the Braves before the 2021 season on a four-year, $64 million contract that was intended to keep him in the heart of the order through his early-to-mid-30s. Early returns were strong, and his huge seasons in 2023 and 2024 made the commitment look wise.
But contracts have endings built in. Once the 2025 season ended, so did the deal, and with it Atlanta’s formal control over his future. Instead of forcing a mid-year decision the club might regret or that could backfire publicly if he went unclaimed, the Braves could simply play out the final season, reassess in the winter, and choose not to bring him back. That is exactly what happened.
From Elite Slugger to Good but Not Great
To see why the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate narrative felt so jarring, remember how high his peak had been. In the shortened 2020 season, he led the National League in home runs and runs batted in while posting an eye-catching batting line and winning a Silver Slugger as a designated hitter. In 2023 and 2024, he again looked like one of the most dangerous right-handed bats in the sport, launching 40 homers in 2023 and then hitting .302 with 39 home runs, 104 RBIs, and a .925 OPS in 2024, finishing fourth in MVP voting.
Against that backdrop, a .232 average with 21 homers in 2025 felt ordinary. Advanced tracking still showed above-average exit velocity and a strong hard-hit rate, suggesting the quality of contact remained solid even as results slipped. But the day-to-day dominance that once defined his game was not there, and on a team already dealing with injuries and inconsistency, every slump stood out.
Off-Field Incidents and a Difficult Relationship With Fans
The Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate discussion was never only about numbers. His time in Atlanta also included serious off-field incidents, including a 2021 arrest on domestic violence charges that led to administrative leave and a 20-game suspension under the league’s joint policy. In 2022, he was arrested and later pled no contest to a driving-under-the-influence charge in the Atlanta suburbs.
Both cases brought discipline, legal consequences, and public apologies, and they reshaped how many fans felt about cheering for him. Even when he hit well, some people were uncomfortable with his presence on the roster. Others focused on his ability to help the team win and argued that, as long as he was allowed to play, the front office had to evaluate him like any other contributor. When his performance dipped in 2025 and the club slipped out of contention, those unresolved feelings made the idea of a sharp break more appealing to a portion of the fan base.
What Actually Happened Instead of Waivers
When you check the official transaction record, the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate label turns out to be more talk than fact. There is no entry showing that Atlanta placed him on outright waivers during the 2025 season. Detailed explainers published in early 2026 point out that the phrase grew from projections and internal roster discussions, not from an actual move filed with the league.
What did happen is simple: his contract reached its natural end after the 2025 campaign, and he became a free agent like any other veteran whose deal has expired. Once that occurred, waivers no longer applied. He could talk with any team, and the Braves no longer had a say in where he went next.
A One-Year Prove-It Deal in Pittsburgh
The next part of the story played out quickly. In February 2026, news broke that Ozuna had agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, including a mutual option for 2027 with a $1.5 million buyout.
From the Pirates’ point of view, the Braves chapter is background. What matters now is what he does in black and gold. Simple questions will define whether the gamble pays off:
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Can he stay mostly healthy over a long season?
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Does his power return to something close to his best years?
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Is he able to provide steady at-bats even when he is not hitting home runs?
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Does his presence help stretch the lineup and protect younger hitters?
If the answers trend positive, a one-year deal with an option could look like smart business for a club trying to climb the standings.
What His Departure Means for the Braves
For Atlanta, the end of the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate chapter brings clarity and flexibility. On the stat sheet, they lose a hitter who, over six seasons with the club, produced a .265 average with 148 home runs and more than 400 RBIs, solidifying his place as one of the most productive power bats of this recent era. Off the field, they move on from the cloud of legal trouble and debate that often surrounded him. Just as important, his exit opens payroll room and frees the designated hitter spot for new ideas.
The Braves can now rotate regular position players through that role to keep them fresh or give a younger bat a real audition in a strong lineup. They also have a track record of building around a deep core rather than leaning on a single veteran star. With other impact players in place and more talent on the way, the front office can focus on fits that complement the roster rather than trying to recreate Ozuna’s exact profile.
Final Thoughts: What Happens Next for Ozuna and Atlanta
After all the talk, the ending to the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate story is straightforward. A long contract ran out, a veteran slugger entered the market, and a new team decided his bat was still worth betting on. For Ozuna, the focus now is on making the most of his year with Pittsburgh, staying healthy, and showing that he can still anchor the middle of a major league order.
For the Braves, the focus shifts to the players who remain, the prospects on the way, and the flexibility gained by moving past a complicated chapter. They gained payroll space, lineup options, and a chance to reset the conversation around their designated hitter spot. The rumor has faded, but its lesson remains clear: sometimes the simplest resolution is the one that actually happens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Marcell Ozuna still with the Atlanta Braves?
No. His long-term deal with Atlanta ended after the 2025 season, and he entered the open market as a free agent, so the Braves no longer have any contractual control over where he plays.
Did the Braves ever officially place Ozuna on waivers?
There is no public record of the Braves placing him on outright waivers during the 2025 season. The “waiver candidate” label came from outside analysis of what the team might do, not from a move the front office actually made.
Why did so many people think he might be a waiver option?
Several factors lined up at once: his age, his salary, a drop in production from his peak seasons, and a year in which the team missed the postseason. When those ingredients mix, it is natural for writers and fans to wonder whether a club will look for ways to clear money and roster space.
How good was Marcell Ozuna during his best seasons with Atlanta?
At his best, he ranked among the most dangerous hitters in the National League. In 2020 he led the league in key power categories, and in 2023 and 2024 he produced back-to-back seasons with around 40 home runs and more than 100 RBIs.
What changed for him in 2025?
His performance stepped down from those heights. He batted in the low .230s, hit just over 20 home runs, and dealt with nagging physical issues that affected his consistency while the team around him also struggled more than usual.
How did off-field incidents affect how fans saw him?
The domestic case and later arrest for driving under the influence made many supporters uneasy about cheering for him. Even after he returned to play, a portion of the fan base never fully embraced him again, which helped fuel calls to move on once his numbers dipped.
Where did Ozuna sign after leaving Atlanta?
In February 2026 he agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates that includes a mutual option for 2027. The agreement gives him a fresh environment and a clear chance to show that he can still be a middle-order threat.
What role will he have with the Pirates?
He is expected to serve mainly as a designated hitter and to hit in the middle of the lineup. Pittsburgh brought him in to add right-handed power, drive in runs, and protect younger hitters by forcing pitchers to respect his bat.
How does his departure help the Braves?
His exit frees up salary and opens the designated hitter spot for other players. The Braves can now spread those at-bats among regulars who need rest or give a younger bat a real chance to stick.
Could the Braves and Ozuna reunite someday?
Anything is possible in baseball, but there is no indication of that right now. Atlanta appears focused on turning the page, and Ozuna has every reason to concentrate on making the most of his opportunity in Pittsburgh.
What should fans watch for from him in 2026?
Fans can keep an eye on his health, his power numbers, and how often he reaches base. If he stays on the field and drives the ball with authority again, it will be a strong sign that he still has impactful seasons left.
What is the main takeaway from the Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate story?
The main takeaway is that the loudest storyline did not match the final outcome. Despite months of talk, he was never actually put on waivers; instead, his contract ended, he signed with a new team, and both sides moved on in a routine, if highly discussed, way.
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