MLB Rumors: Marcell Ozuna’s $16M 2025 contract option exercised by Braves | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Not surprisingly, the Atlanta Braves are looking to exercise the $16 million contract option on Marcell Ozuna’s contract on Monday, according to the club’s Jon Heyman. New York Post.

The 33-year-old was stellar in the 2024 campaign, hitting .302 with 39 home runs, 104 RBI, 96 runs, 31 doubles and a .925 OPS, earning his third All-Star Game berth. He was a big reason why the Braves were able to reach the playoffs despite season-ending injuries to star players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley and Spencer Strider, in addition to a rash of injuries across the roster overall.

October baseball in Atlanta was short-lived as the San Diego Padres swept them out of the Wild Card Round. But winning 89 games and even having a shot at the postseason was a minor miracle and a testament to players like Ozuna, Chris Sale, Matt Olson, Max Fried, Michael Harris Jr. and Ozzie Albies.

So coming into the offseason, there was little doubt that Ozuna would return:

“Those guys had great years,” Braves general manager and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos told reporters regarding the trio of Ozuna, Bummer and d’Arnaud, “so they’ve put themselves in great places (to return).”

And Ozuna confirmed in May that he wants to stay in Atlanta.

“I want to play a few more years, but I want to end up here,” he told Justin Toscano The Atlanta Journal Constitution. “It’s good and I don’t want to keep moving and (have to) make new friends and new teammates. We’ll see what happens. It’s not my decision. My decision is already made. If God gives me the opportunity to be here end up, I’ll end up here If God gives me the chance to be somewhere else, I’ll be somewhere else, wherever God places me in my destiny.

Now he will reportedly stick around in Atlanta.