Braves’ Walt Weiss Teases Possible Reunion With Veteran Bat

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00:00Braves-Walt Weiss teases possible reunion with veteran bat.

00:04The 2026 Atlanta Braves may not be done with Marcel Ozuna,

00:08and the possibility isn't just hot stove chatter.

00:12After six seasons in a Braves uniform, years marked by towering home runs,

00:16slumps, off-field headlines, and yes, a few dugout side-eyes,

00:21Ozuna now stands at the crossroads of free agency.

00:24But if Walt Weiss, Atlanta's new skipper, has anything to say about it,

00:28there's still a chance the door swings open for a surprising seventh act.

00:33I don't know that the door has been shut on Ozuna,

00:35Weiss said this week during the MLB winter meetings in Orlando,

00:38dropping just enough intrigue to get Braves fans whispering again.

00:42Let's be clear, Ozuna's relationship with the Braves has been complicated,

00:46from a June benching by Brian Snitker to a late-season bench presence

00:50and a designated hitter spot that became a revolving door.

00:54But that door may spin again.

00:55With Snitker gone, and Weiss now calling the shots, there's a shift in tone.

01:01Weiss is evaluating the DH slot with tactical flexibility,

01:05keeping players fresh by rotating through it

01:07and leveraging Drake Baldwin and gold-glove Sean Murphy behind the plate.

01:11Drake hits right and left.

01:13He's not a platoon guy, Weiss noted,

01:16clearly envisioning a DH role that doubles as a tool for maximizing offensive potential

01:21without sacrificing defense.

01:23Still, he left a crack in the door, or maybe more,

01:27for a more traditional DH option.

01:29Unless we just get some big hairy guy that wants to DH for us every day,

01:33he added with a chuckle.

01:35Was that just humor?

01:37Maybe?

01:37But it's also hard not to think of Ozuna when you hear big hairy guy

01:41and designated hitter in the same breath.

01:43So, is Ozuna coming back to Atlanta?

01:45Nothing is official yet.

01:48But Weiss's comments show that 2026 could be more about versatility

01:52or redemption than the Braves initially let on.

01:55And if Ozuna still has a few thunderous swings left in that bat,

01:59don't be surprised if Atlanta gives him one more shot

02:02to unleash them at Truist Park.