Could Marcell Ozuna Be A Fit For The Toronto Blue Jays?

[Matthew Lenz]

The Atlanta Braves are potential sellers at the upcoming trade deadline, though currently sit just six games back of a spot in the National League Wild Card race.

Of the names that could be dealt, Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that designated hitter Marcell Ozuna "is included in a lot of trade speculation". With Anthony Santander's slow start and injured shoulder, the Toronto Blue Jays could benefit from adding Ozuna to their lineup.

Currently, outfielder George Springer has been manning DH in Santander's absence. He's been very productive at the plate with an .820 OPS and 11 home runs, resulting in a 131 wRC+. While he no longer grades out as a plus outfielder, he could move back to the grass and provide serviceable defense with his glove to make room for at-bats from Ozuna. However, this could create a bit of a logjam if Santander does return.

Money and prospect capital could be another hindrance to acquiring Ozuna, who has a 126 wRC+ this season. The Blue Jays currently have the fourth highest payroll in baseball and are only $7.5 million under the CBT threshold. While Ozuna is set to be a free agent at seasons end, he would be owed a prorated amount of his $16 million 2025 salary. Moreover, the Blue Jays have a weak farm system limiting the caliber of player(s) they could add at the upcoming deadline.

Do you think the Blue Jays should kick the tires on Ozuna? Join the conversation in the comments!

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[bronson44]

This FO seems to value character pretty highly so I can't really see it.

[mphenhef]

No way this happens.  Character won't allow it for one and can he even come to Canada?

[Stangstag]

Yeah I don’t see it. If they decide to make an upgrade to the lineup it would likely be somewhere on the infield, 3b or 2b.

TBH i wouldn’t be surprised if they only upgraded the pitching at the deadline and left the offense as-is. There really isn’t room/need for a DH-only with Springer/Santander/Kirk on the roster 

[Spanky__99]

7 hours ago, Stangstag said:

Yeah I don’t see it. If they decide to make an upgrade to the lineup it would likely be somewhere on the infield, 3b or 2b.

TBH i wouldn’t be surprised if they only upgraded the pitching at the deadline and left the offense as-is. There really isn’t room/need for a DH-only with Springer/Santander/Kirk on the roster 

Pitching, no doubt.

[BTS]

Not sure Ozuna is a fit unless Santander isn't coming back, but I don't know that character would prevent the team from acquiring him. He had the DV incident awhile back, but he seems extremely popular in Atlanta. I don't think the team would have concerns about clubhouse issues. Maybe fan backlash. 

[jaysblue]

On 6/25/2025 at 2:52 PM, mphenhef said:

No way this happens.  Character won't allow it for one and can he even come to Canada?

Didn't he come to Canada during the Braves/Blue Jays series in April at the Rogers Centre? 😅

[jaysblue]

On 6/26/2025 at 10:27 AM, BTS said:

Not sure Ozuna is a fit unless Santander isn't coming back, but I don't know that character would prevent the team from acquiring him. He had the DV incident awhile back, but he seems extremely popular in Atlanta. I don't think the team would have concerns about clubhouse issues. Maybe fan backlash. 

Yeah unless Santander is out for the rest of the season, doesn't make sense acquiring Ozuna since Santander/Springer and Kirk will all need to rotate through the DH spot. 

[mphenhef]

16 hours ago, jaysblue said:

Didn't he come to Canada during the Braves/Blue Jays series in April at the Rogers Centre? 😅

He missed that series with an injury, don’t think he was with them.

[Terminator]

Ozuna's DV charge is completely overblown. There is a reason he was given a slap on the wrist for it by both law enforcement (charges were withdrawn) and MLB.

There's video of it and on the body cam you can see him kind of push away his wife in the neck area. She looked like she was still using momentum toward him in that moment, and it's not hard to imagine that she was the aggressor just seconds earlier. Given that she threw a soap dish at him and cut his eye and was charged for it a year earlier and it starts to paint the picture.

But anytime his name comes up on Reddit it's that "he's a piece of s*** abuser who should never set foot on the field again" or whatever else they want to call him. 

[Brownie19]

1 minute ago, Terminator said:

Ozuna's DV charge is completely overblown. There is a reason he was given a slap on the wrist for it by both law enforcement (charges were withdrawn) and MLB.

There's video of it and on the body cam you can see him kind of push away his wife in the neck area. She looked like she was still using momentum toward him in that moment, and it's not hard to imagine that she was the aggressor just seconds earlier. Given that she threw a soap dish at him and cut his eye and was charged for it a year earlier and it starts to paint the picture.

But anytime his name comes up on Reddit it's that "he's a piece of s*** abuser who should never set foot on the field again" or whatever else they want to call him. 

Are you going to defend Diddy next?  LOL

[Terminator]

But anyway, Springer is starting to settle in as my preferred DH so I don't think Ozuna is a good fit. Even when Taters comes back, I'd put Springer there.

He mentioned how he really likes to DH in a post game interview recently. He didn't divulge much but he said he was "able to do things he couldn't normally do". I know Frank Thomas loved it. He was in the clubhouse taking swings and watching video when the team was out in the field. I can only assume Springer is doing something similar.

Given that his defense is starting to slip, I think it makes sense to DH most of the time from here on out.

[Terminator]

Just now, Brownie19 said:

Are you going to defend Diddy next?  LOL

 

[Maine Jays]

If we're going to consider players with questionable character that were exonerated, then Trevor Bauer should be on speed dial