Marcell Ozuna trade appears inevitable as Braves add third catcher; Austin Riley could return Tuesday

New York Times

22-07-2025

ATLANTA – When the Braves added veteran Sandy León as a third catcher Monday, it underscored their commitment to alternating catchers Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin in the catching and DH roles for the forseeable future.
It was also another indication that slumping DH Marcell Ozuna will be traded before the July 31 deadline.
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Ozuna was out of the lineup for the fourth time in five games Monday for a series-opening 9-5 win against the San Francisco Giants. Baldwin DH'd and had a career-high six RBIs on three hits, including two doubles.
He's the first Braves rookie to have at least five RBIs in a game since Kelly Johnson's six at Cincinnati on June 17, 2005. Wes Helms has the Atlanta rookie record with seven RBIs at Milwaukee on Aug. 8, 2004.
'It's cool to be even close to that record,' Baldwin said, smiling about that and even more when asked about León, one of his mentors, joining the team. 'He was a huge help to me last year in Triple A. Even in spring training, our lockers were right next to each other. He's incredible.
'It was awesome to have him today, to see him and catch up. He's still helping me with the game and everything, so it's cool to have him back.'
Braves manager Brian Snitker said that leadership and experience were reasons the Braves added León, though not the main one.
'Bringing Sandy in, a guy with his experience, he's kind of like another coach also,' Snitker said of León, a 12-year veteran who last played in the majors in 2023 with the Texas Rangers, and went 3-for-6 with a double in three games in the 2018 World Series for the champion Boston Red Sox.
Mostly, the Braves wanted to protect themselves with a third catcher in case Baldwin or Murphy had to leave a game he was catching, which would require the Braves to move the other from DH to catcher and lose the DH spot the rest of the way.
That would result in double-switching for the remainder of that game, difficult if there were plenty of innings left or a game went to extras. Otherwise, the pitcher would have to hit.
'We've been dodging having to put the DH in the game (to catch), and two nights ago it was really close to happening,' Snitker said, referring to a situation Saturday against the Yankees when the Braves nearly pinch-ran for Murphy after a seventh inning of what was a one-run game at the time.
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Snitker said he talked to general manager Alex Anthopoulos about a third catcher, and since he intended to continue using Baldwin and Murphy together, Ozuna would only start occasionally as long as he remained with the team. Atlanta designated outfielder Stuart Fairchild for assignment to open a spot for León, 36.
León is not much of a hitter, but his defense remains solid, as does his clubhouse reputation. He has been at Triple-A Gwinnett for two seasons and was credited by Braves coach and former catcher Eddie Perez for doing a lot of the work that helped Baldwin make strides there last season.
At spring training, Baldwin and León sat at their locker and had long discussions most mornings.
If León appears in a game for the Braves, it'll be the seventh MLB team he's played for.
'He's been through a lot of big games and was really impressive in spring training,' Snitker said. 'So, if we're going to do that (Baldwin and Murphy splitting DH/catching duties) most of the time, then I think it's good to have that. With the outfield being kind of solidified with three guys; they're gonna play every day.
'Stu (Fairchild) was a big part before Jurikson (Profar) came back (from an 80-game PED suspension). But now there's really nothing for him to do. So we were able to do this and add the third catcher.'
Baldwin has 15 hits (six extra-base hits) and 13 RBIs in his past 12 games. Monday, he hit a three-run double in a five-run first inning, a two-run single in the fourth, and an RBI double in the sixth on a ball misplayed by two outfielders.
Playing every day makes it easier to stay in a groove, he said. After his OPS dipped to .792 on June 18, he's boosted it back to .846, second among MLB qualified rookies and first among NL rookies.
'It's been incredible,' right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. said through an interpreter, regarding Baldwin's performance in his first season. 'And I think everyone's seen it, and y'all have seen it. Like we say, he's a horse.'.
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Ozuna, in the final year of his contract, had a .922 OPS after his first 30 games this season despite playing through a hip injury. But in his past 62 games, he's hit just .212 with eight homers, 61 strikeouts and a .669 OPS.
He and reliever Raisel Iglesias, also on an expiring contract, are the Braves who seem most likely to be traded before the July 31 deadline. Reliever Pierce Johnson is a possibility, but he's been productive for the Braves since they got him from Colorado at the 2023 trade deadline, and has an affordable $7 million club option for 2026.
Austin Riley is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list Tuesday, and Snitker said the third baseman felt good after going through an extensive workout Monday that included some infield drills to simulate the play on which he got hurt. The Braves will wait to see how he feels Tuesday morning before making a decision.
Riley's been out with a lower abdominal strain since injuring it throwing across his body after charging in to barehand a slow roller at St. Louis on July 11. He took batting practice for several days, did fielding drills and ran the bases without any difficulty. They added a drill Monday with similar throws like the one he got hurt on.
Rookie fill-in Nacho Alvarez Jr., 22, has made a great impression with his defense in six games at third base. He's looked like a different player than last season when he made his MLB debut and played seven games at second base and one at third, with his defense at second understandably shaky.
He said the difference is comfortability at third base, the position he played before and after he was drafted by the Braves in 2022, before shifting to shortstop in 2023 and splitting time between shortstop and third in 2024.
Alvarez played just one game at second base in the minors before he was called up in July 2024 to fill in for an injured Ozzie Albies at second base. He struggled at the position and at the plate before being sent back to Triple A.
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'I had never played pro ball at second base, so last year when I came up I was learning everything on the fly,' Alvarez said. 'It's pretty tough. Honestly, it feels so comfortable over (at third). I love third base. I mean, it's just so much fun. I grew up watching the greats – (Nolan) Arenado is one of my favorites.
'It just feels so natural. I feel like I'm just riding a bike every time I'm over there.'
On Sunday, Snitker predicted a long major league career for Alvarez, adding that versatility he's shown defensively will be a key. He hasn't shown an ability to hit at the major league level yet, though he does have a .305 average with 11 homers and an .889 OPS in 75 Triple-A games over parts of two seasons.
'That's probably gonna be his role, is to be that Swiss Army Knife guy,' Snitker said.
Alvarez was at major league spring training but missed most of it due to a wrist injury that lingered into the season, which he thinks has been part of the reason he hasn't found his 'rhythm' at the plate. He didn't play his first game this season until June 9, and he was in the majors July 11.
He said the wrist didn't improve until he received an injection from a hand specialist.
'And ever since then, I've felt really good,' he said.