Now that the Braves offseason has officially begun, the focus turns from an NLCS loss to the Dodgers to how do you get back to the same place next year and advance.
One of the biggest questions that Alex Anthopoulos will face this offseason is what to do with Marcell Ozuna, who will be a free agent after signing a one-year deal worth $18 million to play in Atlanta in 2020.
There still isn't an announcement about the DH rule and if it will remain in the National League moving forward, and paying Ozuna to DH versus trusting him defensively in the outfield are two different discussions.
This is a situation that seems very similar to Josh Donaldson after the 2019 season. Ozuna seems to fit very well with the roster and in the clubhouse, same as Donaldson did, but what will it cost to bring him back?
Josh Donaldson signed a four-year deal worth $92 Million and the Braves were not willing to pay that much for the veteran third baseman.
John and Hugh discuss some of the factors that Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has to consider when deciding if they want to bring Ozuna back and what to offer him.
"We are going to have the DH in the National League beginning in 2022, but at the moment there is no DH in the NL next season," explains John Fricke. "They may change that, I think that's what's going to happen, but if there isn't do you pay Marcell Ozuna to play left field?
"He is such a game-changer in your lineup, popular, at some point he just fits with the ball club," continues Fricke. "Leading the league in HRs and RBI, I think you pay the man and don't worry about what happens with the DH next season."