Will the Atlanta Braves move on from this franchise cornerstone?
The theme of the 2025 season for the Atlanta Braves has been disappointment.
Of course, the Braves have had some rotten injury luck. A returning playoff team doesn't get to 39-50 without that. But there are also players up and down the roster who were reliable in seasons past who have gone ice-cold.
Ozzie Albies is likely the most shocking player in that category, if only purely based on track record. The three-time All-Star second baseman is in his age-28 season, which should be his prime, yet he's put up a .606 OPS and only 0.3 bWAR through 89 games.
Albies is in the final year of a seven-year, $35 million contract, and he has a club option for $7 million next season. It once looked like picking up that option would be a no-brainer. Now, one has to wonder if he's in danger of becoming trade deadline fodder.
On Monday, Zach Pressnell proposed that Albies could become a target for a contending team known to be in need of more infield help: the struggling New York Yankees.
"The New York Yankees need to add an infielder following the losses of Gleyber Torres to free agency and Oswaldo Cabrera to a leg injury. While the Yankees have been connected to a lot of different third basemen on the market, the Braves could use middle infielder Ozzie Albies as a trade chip who could entice the Yankees," Pressnell wrote.
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"Albies has the ability to play anywhere on the infield dirt, but playing him at second base fits the Yankees. The Braves could look to target a high potential outfield prospect like Spencer Jones or Everson Pereira in return. Both sluggers are nearly big league ready and would be a great return for Albies."
Albies hasn't quite been the same player since fracturing his wrist last summer, so it's possible his poor performance, coupled with that injury, could turn teams off. The Yankees would have to feel confident he could turn his season around to give up a premium prospect, or even a decent one.
The next few weeks will be highly intriguing to see whether Albies can find his groove at the plate, and accordingly, whether trade interest picks up.
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