Braves Explore Trades Amidseason Struggles, Ozuna Murphy Potential Targets

The Atlanta Braves are facing a challenging 2025 season, currently holding a 29-38 record and trailing the playoff race by nine games. Despite this, the team is not fully committed to rebuilding, as they continue to explore trades to improve weak spots, particularly in the outfield and shortstop positions. Marcell Ozuna, a designated hitter struggling with a hip injury and a recent slump, is the leading trade candidate, with teams like the Detroit Tigers expressing interest to bolster their lineup. Catcher Sean Murphy, who is performing well both offensively and defensively, could also be traded to give more playing time to promising rookie Drake Baldwin and manage salary commitments. The Braves’ offseason signing of outfielder Jurickson Profar has been a disappointment due to his 80-game suspension for PED violations, significantly weakening the team's offense aside from Ronald Acuña Jr. The Braves’ future strategy hinges on whether they can turn their season around or will be forced to trade key players before the deadline to rebuild.