Red Sox could target $80 million Braves All-Star to replace Rafael Devers
The Boston Red Sox shocked the entire Major League Baseball world on Father's Day when they traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison.
The team is still in the thick of the playoff race in the American League, but is struggling a bit, now sitting at 40-42.
If they want to contend, they will need to make a move to replace Devers in their lineup. There will be plenty of bats available at the trade deadline.
Cody Williams of FanSided proposed the idea of Boston trading for Atlanta Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna.
"Make no mistake, Ozuna is a useful bat, even at this point in his career. Furthermore, his right-handed power could make some sense in terms of lineup construction," Williams wrote.
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Ozuna is hitting .247/.379/.406 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI and a .785 OPS. He is a three-time All-Star, former Gold Glove winner and two-time Silver Slugger.
The 34-year-old slugger is in the final year of his five-year contract with the Braves. Teams often overpay for rental players at the trade deadline, so a trade to Boston isn't out of the realm of possibility for Ozuna.
While his average has dipped below .250, his bat remains a force, and the Red Sox also have the prospects necessary to make this deal happen, while the Braves have essentially fallen out of postseason contention.
Last season, Ozuna hit .302/.378/.546 with 39 home runs, 104 RBI and a .925 OPS, so there is still plenty of value.
It will be interesting to see if Boston decides to make a play for the slugger.