Marcell Ozuna? Very Interesting.

Well, this one’s spicy. Sports Illustrated recently dove into the swirling trade waters of Major League Baseball and came back with a name that should make Yankees fans do a double take: Marcell Ozuna. Yes, that Marcell Ozuna—the boom-or-bust Braves slugger with a bat built for Broadway and baggage to boot.

According to SI’s crystal ball, if Ozuna ends up getting dealt, he might just be the biggest offensive name moved at the deadline. That’s not hyperbole—he’s clobbered 79 home runs over the past two seasons and finished 4th in NL MVP voting in 2023. That kind of résumé tends to catch a GM’s eye—unless you’re Brian Cashman, who prefers cryptic quotes and guys with sore obliques.

Now, in his age-34 season, Ozuna’s power has dipped a bit—but not into the abyss. He’s still squaring up enough heaters to scare a pitcher or two. In fact, pitchers are daring him with more velocity this year than last: 17.9% of pitches are fastballs in the zone (up from 14.9%), along with slight bumps in sinkers and sliders. He’s not just seeing more pitches in the zone—he’s being challenged in it. That’s either respect… or recklessness.

Now, here’s the tricky part. The Braves aren’t exactly known for waving white flag. If Atlanta slides and they do deal anyone, Ozuna, as a pending free agent, might be the one guy they let walk.

Would the Yankees actually bite? USA Today’s Bob Nightengale says New York is sniffing around for a right-handed bat, and Ozuna checks that box with a Sharpie. The man’s basically built to be a DH in pinstripes—power, swagger, and the ability to make an upper deck look like a chip shot. But let’s be real. The Yankees are more likely to spin some corporate nonsense about “internal improvements” and “believing in our guys” before adding a bat with as much pop—and personality—as Ozuna. Plus, if there’s even a whiff of controversy, Aaron Boone might have to hold a team meeting with crayons.

Still, it’s a tantalizing thought. Ozuna in the Bronx. Bat flips, bombs, and perhaps some long-awaited right-handed thunder behind Judge and Soto. Will it happen? Probably not.

But hey, in a season where the Yankees continue to roll out Billy McKinney lookalikes (remember him?) and call it depth, we can dream, right?