The Atlanta Braves can’t seem to catch a break with Marcell Ozuna.
After leading the league in home runs during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Braves re-signed him to a four-year, $65 million contract.
Since being re-signed, however, he has struggled to stay healthy, and last year’s domestic violence incident was just the first of a series of unfortunate events.
Last night, the embattled Braves outfielder was arrested and charged with a DUI.
He’s hit 20 homers this season, but his average sits at just .214.
The Braves have an even bigger problem on their hands now, as Ozuna still is owed more than $41 million by the team after losing his starting job and dealing with injuries.
#Braves still owe Ozuna more than $41 million in the four-year, $65 million contract he signed in February 2021. He was injured and later suspended for most of the 2021 season and all of the postseason, and lost his starting job this season due to performance (.214 BA, .656 OPS).
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 19, 2022
The Ozuna Conundrum
This has been a problem for the Braves for some time.
Ozuna missed the vast majority of the 2021 season.
He was already on the injured list when the domestic violence incident took place, which caused him to be suspended for the rest of the season and the entire postseason.
Once again, the Braves are going to have to figure out what to do with him.
Ozuna has not lived up to his contract so far.
Whether it’s injuries, struggles at the plate, suspensions, or DUI arrests, Ozuna has been a recurring problem for the Braves.
They just can’t seem to catch a break with him.
His antics off the field have caused the team a great many problems.
Ozuna was ultimately released from jail, but that doesn’t mean that the issue has been resolved.
His actions continue to plague the Braves.
Couple that with the fact that the Braves still owe him over $41 million.
We’ll see what ultimately comes of this, but it’s hard to imagine there not being some repercussions.
