The Atlanta Braves’ postseason ended unexpectedly this week as they were swept by the San Diego Padres in the NL Wild Card Series, prompting the organization to shift focus to the offseason. According to Mark Bowman, the Braves have confirmed they will exercise the 2025 options for two key players, Marcell Ozuna and Travis d’Arnaud. Ozuna will earn $16 million next season, while d’Arnaud is set to make $8 million.
These decisions were anticipated. Ozuna had a standout season in 2024, hitting .302 with 39 home runs and 104 RBIs, ranking third in the National League in batting average, second in home runs, and fourth in RBIs. He served exclusively as the Braves’ designated hitter throughout the entire season, a role he is expected to maintain next year. It would have been a significant misstep for the Braves to let him go after his impressive performance.
Meanwhile, d’Arnaud has been with the Braves since 2020. He shared catching duties with Sean Murphy but became the preferred choice for manager Brian Snitker toward the end of the season. He played 99 games, posting a .238 batting average with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs. d’Arnaud is a reliable presence behind the plate and well-liked in the clubhouse, and he will continue to get ample playing time in 2025 as he is familiar with the Braves’ starters.
The Braves wrapped up the regular season with an 89-73 record, barely making it into the playoffs after needing at least one victory on the last day against the New York Mets in a doubleheader. Unfortunately, they struggled against San Diego, being shut out in Game 1 by Michael King and losing 5-4 in Game 2.
Left-handed pitcher Max Fried is poised to enter free agency this winter, and there’s a possibility he could sign with another team. Given that Fried is in line for a significant contract, the Braves will have to consider how to fill his spot if he departs.
Quinn Allen serves as a Senior Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, focusing primarily on soccer, basketball, and baseball. When he’s not creating content for CP, he also writes sports betting predictions for various platforms throughout North America.
