Outfield Marcell Ozuna and Atlanta Braves have agreed to a four-year contract worth $ 64 million, the team said in a statement on Friday.
The contract includes a five-year option for the club, which would increase the profit to 80 million, 65 million in guaranteed money, the team said.
Ozuna bet himself after the 2019 season, turning down a $ 17.8 million offer from St. Louis. Louis Cardinals by signing a $ 18 million deal with the Braves in late January. The move paid off, as the slugger finished sixth in the National League MVP vote after leading the league with 18 home runs, 56 RBI and 145 total bases. He was third in the National League with a .338 average and a .636 percentage, the best of his career.
The bet? The Cardinals’ qualifying bid of $ 17.8 million has so far accounted for 41% of his career earnings.
While a 2018 shoulder injury is considered a risk, Ozuna, who will turn 30 in November, saw some action on the left field alongside the Braves in last season’s 60-game pandemic shortened schedule. However, most of his bats with Atlanta have emerged as the team’s designated striker.
Prior to joining the Braves, Ozuna spent two seasons with the Cardinals, protecting Paul Goldschmidt in line as they returned to the playoffs in 2019. In the last five seasons, including 2020, Ozuna has managed 130 home runs. and two calls to All-Star Games with the power of your bat.
Since the start of the 2017 season, Ozuna has 357 RBIs, second only to Nolan Arenado of the Rockies (384) and ahead of Freeman (343) among National League players, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
In eight seasons in MLB, he has a .276 batting average, with 166 home runs, 594 RBI and 505 marked with the Marlins, Cardinals and Braves.