Braves’ Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate: The Real Story Behind the 2026 Rumors

If you’ve been following MLB headlines this offseason, you’ve likely encountered the phrase “Braves Marcell Ozuna waiver candidate” and wondered what it actually means. Was the Atlanta Braves slugger nearly placed on waivers? Did the team try to dump his contract? And why does this conversation persist even as the 2026 season approaches?

Here’s the definitive answer: As of February 2026, Marcell Ozuna is no longer with the Atlanta Braves and was never placed on waivers. His contract expired naturally at the end of the 2025 season, making him an unrestricted free agent who ultimately signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates .

This article cuts through the confusion to explain exactly what happened, why the waiver speculation emerged, and what Ozuna’s future looks like with his new team. Whether you’re a Braves fan trying to make sense of the offseason or a Pirates supporter curious about your new designated hitter, you’ll find the complete story here.

Marcell Ozuna: Career Snapshot and Braves Tenure

Before diving into the waiver discussion, it’s worth understanding who Marcell Ozuna is and what he accomplished during his time in Atlanta.

Key Career Details:

• Position: Outfielder / Designated Hitting

• MLB Debut: 2013 (Miami Marlins)

• Braves Tenure: 2020–2025

• Career Highlights: Three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, one Gold Glove

• Notable Achievement: Finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 2024

Ozuna signed with the Braves as a free agent in 2020 on a one-year deal, then posted a career-high 1.067 OPS that season. That performance earned him a four-year, $65 million extension in 2021, keeping him in Atlanta through the 2025 campaign .

His best years came in 2023 and 2024, when he combined for 79 home runs and a .289/.364/.552 slash line. Over his entire Braves tenure, Ozuna hit 148 home runs—the 18th most in baseball during that span and trailing only Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber among designated hitters .

What Does “Waiver Candidate” Actually Mean?

To understand the “Braves Marcell Ozuna waiver candidate” speculation, you first need to know how MLB waivers work.

The MLB Waiver Process Explained

When a team places a player on waivers, it’s essentially offering that player’s contract to the other 29 teams. Here’s what happens:

• Other teams have the opportunity to claim the player and assume the remaining salary

• If multiple teams claim him, the team with the worst record gets priority

• If no team claims him, he clears waivers and remains with the original organization

• The player can also be traded or released after clearing waivers

Waivers are often used for roster management—creating space for younger players, shedding salary, or testing trade interest. However, they only apply to players under active contracts.

Why Ozuna’s Name Surfaced

During the latter part of the 2025 season, the Atlanta Braves found themselves outside the playoff picture. When a team transitions from contention to planning for the future, front offices typically review every veteran contract—especially those nearing expiration .

Ozuna’s name emerged in that review process. He had guaranteed money remaining late in the season, and analysts estimated that waiving him could have saved a relatively small amount of salary. That theoretical possibility triggered discussion, not action.

Important distinction: The Braves never actually placed Ozuna on waivers. He remained on the active roster through the final game, and his contract expired naturally at season’s end .

The Timeline: From All-Star to Free Agency

Understanding the sequence of events helps clarify how the waiver conversation developed—and why it no longer applies.

This timeline reveals that the waiver conversation was tied to roster evaluation rather than an actual transaction. By early 2026, Ozuna’s status is defined by free agency, not roster mechanics .

Marcell Ozuna’s 2025 Season: Putting Performance in Context

The waiver speculation gained traction partly because Ozuna’s 2025 numbers didn’t match his elite 2023-2024 production. But context matters.

The Statistical Reality

What the Numbers Tell Us

A nagging hip injury limited Ozuna’s power, especially during the second half. His surface numbers declined, but underlying skills remained intact. The career-high 15.9% walk rate kept his offensive value solid, and his 114 wRC+ showed he was still about 14 percent better than the league-average hitter .

MLB Trade Rumors noted: “Ozuna struggled somewhat in the 2025 season but still demonstrated above-average offensive performance… He excelled in April and May but became one of the league’s worst hitters in June, hampered by a hip injury. He maintained above-average hitting for the final three months of the season” .

Even during a “down” year, Ozuna’s 21 home runs would have led the 2025 Pirates, who finished dead last in MLB with just 117 homers as a team .

Why the Braves Didn’t Waive Ozuna—and Why They Let Him Walk

The Braves’ decisions regarding Ozuna followed consistent internal logic.

Why Waiving Him Made No Sense

Despite the speculation, Atlanta never seriously considered placing Ozuna on waivers for several reasons:

• Limited financial benefit: The potential salary savings were modest

• Disruption outweighs gain: The front office determined the optics and roster disruption weren’t worth it

• Value of stability: Even during a down year, Ozuna remained a credible presence in the lineup

Why They Didn’t Re-Sign Him

After Ozuna became a free agent, Atlanta showed no interest in bringing him back. The reasons reflect a strategic shift:

A New Approach to the DH Role: The Braves now plan to rotate multiple players through the designated hitter spot—including Sean Murphy, Drake Baldwin, and others—rather than committing to a full-time DH. This allows rest days and matchup flexibility for core players .

Long-Term Payroll Strategy: Atlanta continues building around younger, cost-controlled talent. Short-term flexibility now outweighs familiarity with veteran players .

Emerging Talent: The team wants to give at-bats to rookie Drake Baldwin, who won Rookie of the Year honors, and utilize both Baldwin and Sean Murphy simultaneously in the lineup .

The 10-and-5 Rights Factor: What Really Happened at the Trade Deadline

One additional element complicated the waiver conversation: Ozuna’s 10-and-5 rights.

Players with at least 10 years of MLB service time and five consecutive years with the same team have the right to veto any trade. Ozuna qualified, and reports indicate he blocked three trade proposals during the 2025 season .

This explains why the Braves couldn’t move him at the deadline even if they wanted to. As FanSided reported in June 2025: “The most obvious trade candidate after [Chris Sale] has long been All-Star designated hitter Marcell Ozuna; he is in a contract year and probably will not be back with the Braves in 2026. But ESPN’s Buster Olney reports Ozuna has 10-5 rights, meaning he can veto any trade this summer” .

Ozuna’s ability to control his destination meant the Braves’ options were limited—another reason the waiver speculation remained just that: speculation.

Ozuna’s New Chapter: The Pittsburgh Pirates

On February 8, 2026, Marcell Ozuna agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates .

Contract Details

• Guaranteed money: $12 million

• 2026 salary: $10.5 million

• 2027 option: $16 million mutual option with $1.5 million buyout

• Role: Primary designated hitter

What Ozuna Brings to Pittsburgh

The Pirates finished 71-91 in 2025 and ranked last in MLB in several offensive categories:

• Fewest home runs (117)

• Lowest slugging percentage (.350)

• Lowest OPS (.655)

• Fewest runs scored

Ozuna addresses multiple needs simultaneously:

Power bat: His 21 home runs from 2025 would have led the Pirates.

Right-handed balance: The projected lineup features several left-handed hitters (Ryan O’Hearn, Brandon Lowe, Spencer Horwitz, Oneil Cruz), with Bryan Reynolds as a switch hitter. Ozuna provides essential right-handed power .

Veteran presence: Since 2023, Ozuna ranks ninth in baseball with 100 home runs. If healthy, he transforms the middle of Pittsburgh’s order .

MLB Trade Rumors noted: “Pittsburgh’s projected lineup likely features Ryan O’Hearn in left field, Brandon Lowe at second base, Spencer Horwitz at first base, and Ozuna as the designated hitter. While not an ideal defensive setup, Pittsburgh will accept this sacrifice to strengthen its lineup, which has been one of the weakest in MLB for over a decade” .

The Andrew McCutchen Connection

Ozuna’s signing likely signals the end of Andrew McCutchen’s second stint in Pittsburgh. The 39-year-old franchise icon hit .239 with 13 home runs as the primary DH in 2025, but with Ozuna now in that role, there’s no clear path back for McCutchen on the roster .

It’s a difficult but necessary decision for a Pirates team trying to build a contender around reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes .

Teams That Missed Out on Ozuna

Before landing in Pittsburgh, Ozuna drew interest from several other clubs:

The Guardians, in particular, were viewed as a logical fit. Just Baseball’s Matt Carroll wrote in January 2026: “Cleveland has the opportunity to bring in a player looking to do that in designated hitter Marcell Ozuna… His 21 homers and 68 RBIs last season would’ve both ranked third on the Guardians, while his 114 wRC+ would’ve ranked second among team qualifiers” .

Ultimately, Pittsburgh’s need proved greatest—and their offer most compelling.

FAQs: Braves Marcell Ozuna Waiver Candidate

Was Marcell Ozuna ever placed on waivers by the Braves?

No. Atlanta never placed Ozuna on waivers during the 2025 season. The speculation reflected roster evaluation, not an actual transaction .

Why did analysts call Ozuna a waiver candidate?

Because his contract was expiring and the Braves were reviewing roster flexibility late in the season. Teams often consider every option when transitioning from contention to planning mode .

Where did Ozuna go after leaving the Braves?

He signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2026 season, with a mutual option for 2027 .

Is Ozuna still a power hitter?

Yes. Even during a down year in 2025, he produced 21 home runs and maintained strong plate discipline with a career-high 15.9% walk rate. Since 2023, he ranks ninth in MLB with 100 home runs .

Could Ozuna have blocked a trade?

Yes. Ozuna had 10-and-5 rights (10 years MLB service, five consecutive with Atlanta), allowing him to veto any trade. Reports indicate he blocked three proposals during the 2025 season .

Why didn’t the Braves re-sign him?

Atlanta is shifting to a rotational DH approach, using the spot to give at-bats to multiple players including Sean Murphy and rookie Drake Baldwin. The team also prioritizes younger, cost-controlled talent over veteran commitments .

Final Verdict: Putting the Waiver Speculation to Rest

The “Braves Marcell Ozuna waiver candidate” conversation captured attention throughout late 2025, but it always represented speculation rather than reality. Ozuna was never placed on waivers, never removed from the roster, and never treated as a salary dump.

Instead, he completed his contract with dignity, played through injury, and maintained above-average offensive production. His ability to control his destination through 10-and-5 rights meant the Braves’ options were limited anyway.

Now, Ozuna begins a new chapter in Pittsburgh—joining a team desperate for power, hungry to build around young talent, and hopeful that a 35-year-old slugger with 296 career home runs has one more productive run left .

For Braves fans, the story is about transition—a new approach to the DH spot, emerging young players, and a roster built differently than the one that won the World Series in 2021. For Pirates fans, it’s about hope—that a proven power bat can help transform baseball’s worst offense into something worth watching.

The waiver talk belongs to the past. The current story is about opportunity, fresh starts, and baseball’s endless capacity for reinvention.