One of the Cleveland Guardians’ biggest needs right now is adding more power to their lineup. With holes at first base, designated hitter, and right field, the team has several directions it could take. Among the top potential targets is Atlanta Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Braves aren’t interested in a traditional trade-deadline sell-off. Instead of dealing players for prospects, Atlanta is reportedly seeking MLB-ready talent in return—players who can contribute immediately with an eye toward a 2026 push.
“GMs who have spoken to Atlanta recently are convinced that Alex Anthopoulos has zero interest in giving up players for prospects at the trade deadline,” Nightengale reported.
This report is notable because it doesn’t rule out trades entirely—it just means the Braves are only open to deals involving big-league-ready talent. With Atlanta sitting 13 games out of first in the NL East, a 2025 playoff run looks unlikely. However, the core remains strong, and the front office appears to be targeting 2026 as their bounce-back year.
This puts Cleveland in a tricky spot. While the Guardians do have a few intriguing trade chips at both the Major and Minor League levels, Atlanta’s reluctance to accept prospects narrows their options. Any player they offer would need to be ready to contribute in 2025 and be under team control at least through 2026.
Names like Nolan Jones, Lane Thomas, and Emmanuel Clase could be considered, but they may not align with what Atlanta’s looking for. Shane Bieber might also be on the table, though it’s unclear if the Braves would be interested given their unclear buying/selling status.
Ozuna, who’s slashing .253 with 11 homers and 60 hits this season, would certainly boost Cleveland’s offense. But given Atlanta’s current trade stance, it seems unlikely the Guardians have the right assets to get a deal done—unless the Braves soften their stance and open up to prospect-heavy packages.
For now, Cleveland remains interested, but the path to landing Ozuna looks steep unless Atlanta shifts its approach.
