Braves re-sign Ozuna to 4-year, $65M deal

Marcell Ozuna still had Georgia on his mind.

The Atlanta Braves re-signed Ozuna to a four-year, $65-million contract that includes a club option in 2025, the team announced Friday.

The option is worth $16 million with a $1-million buyout.

The Braves teased his re-signing on Twitter moments before the announcement, which first baseman and reigning National League MVP Freddie Freeman immediately endorsed:

Ozuna, 30, initially joined the Braves as a free agent last offseason on a one-year deal. The gamble paid off for both sides, as Ozuna became an integral part of Atlanta's offense by slashing .338/.431/.636 and leading the NL in homers (18), RBIs (56), and total bases (145). For his efforts, he won his second career Silver Slugger and took home the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.

Though he owns one Gold Glove, Ozuna primarily served as the Braves' DH last season, with his defense declining in recent years. He'll likely have to play left field going forward, given the NL appears to be returning to DH-less baseball for at least the coming season.

Atlanta designated outfielder Kyle Garlick for assignment to make room for Ozuna on the 40-man roster.

The Tampa Bay Rays reportedly showed late interest in Ozuna before he returned to Atlanta. The New York Mets also had some interest earlier in the offseason.