Padres trade talks intensifying with Braves for 40 home run slugger

The San Diego Padres are poised to be one of the more active teams at the MLB trade deadline. With needs in the outfield, at catcher, and potentially at designated hitter, A.J. Preller and the Padres are expected to be active in trade talks.

And according to MLB insider Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital, the Padres are already making headway in a potential trade ahead of the deadline.

Gomez reports that: "Trade talks between the Padres and Braves have intensified. The Padres are very interested in landing Marcell Ozuna. According to the source, the Braves would receive Padres' No. 18 prospect RHP Francis Pena and No. 21 prospect RHP Ryan Bergert."

SOURCE: Trade talks between #Padres and #Braves have intensified. The #Padres are very interested in landing Marcell Ozuna. According to the source, the #Braves would receive Padres' No. 18 prospect RHP Francis Peña and No. 21 prospect RHP Ryan Bergert.@z101digital

— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) July 23, 2025

The Padres are interested in Ozuna, and according to this report from Gomez, their trade talks are intensifying. In his big-league career, Ozuna has 288 home runs, including a 40-home-run season in 2023 and a 39-home-run season in 2024.

He's been one of the best sluggers in the league over the past few seasons. And while he hasn't been as incredible in 2025, hitting just 13 home runs through 92 games, Ozuna has still been a solid hitter.

This season, in 92 games, Ozuna has a .235 batting average and a .390 slugging percentage. His .751 OPS isn't as great as it was a year ago when he had a .925 OPS. But, he's still an above-average hitter, and would be a nice pickup for the Padres.

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Ozuna would be an interesting fit. The team needs a new left fielder, but this potential acquisition of Ozuna could have Gavin Sheets stay in left field full-time while Ozuna takes over at designated hitter.

The 34-year-old Braves slugger is in the final year of his deal and will be a free agent after the season. He's a true rental, and unfortunately for the Padres, he has some control over his destination. 

Ozuna has 10-5 rights, meaning he effectively has a no-trade clause and could veto any potential trade this deadline. While he could accept a deal with the Padres, before the two teams agree to the compensation, Ozuna would have to be open to coming to San Diego.

If he does accept the deal, then the Padres could land a slugger who could take over at designated hitter. He'd provide much-needed pop in the middle of the lineup and would help the Padres make another postseason push this season.

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