ATLANTA _ The Braves have their clean-up hitter.
Marcell Ozuna, who tormented the Braves in the National League Division Series with St. Louis, signed a one-year, $18 million deal, the team announced Tuesday night. He fills the need for a power hitter in the middle of the lineup.
The signing came one week after Josh Donaldson signed a four-year deal with Minnesota. His departure left an enormous power gap in the middle of the order.
Ozuna, 29, has spent the past two seasons with the Cardinals after spending his early career in the National League East with Miami. Ozuna hit .241 with 29 homers and a .800 OPS last season (130 games).
He helped the Cardinals win the NL Central and advance to the NL Championship Series, hitting .324 in the postseason. He hit a robust .429 with two homers in the five-game NLDS, in which the Cardinals eliminated his new club.
Ozuna has earned two All-Star appearances since debuting in 2013. He's been a potent bat over that span, hitting 23 or more home runs in each of the past four seasons, including a career-best 37 in 2017. He's collected 124, 88 and 89 RBIs across the past three seasons, respectively.
The slugger possesses an ideal resume for the Braves, who were dealt a blow when Donaldson, and his 37 homers and 94 RBIs, departed for Minnesota. Ozuna theoretically replaces a bulk of Donaldson's production while requiring only a single-season commitment. The Braves balked at giving Donaldson a sizable, long-term deal.
Much like Donaldson last winter, Ozuna comes to Atlanta on a one-year agreement, seeking to rebuild his value for the next free-agent cycle.
The deal carries similarities with the Dallas Keuchel signing as well. The Braves waited out Keuchel's market into June before signing him to a one-year deal. In this case, no other franchise met Ozuna's initial demands, allowing the Braves to swoop in and sign him on more team-friendly terms.
While not a highly regarded defender, Ozuna plugs into left field. That will directly affect Nick Markakis' and Adam Duvall's playing time, given the duo was previously slotted to platoon the position. Ronald Acuna was penciled in right, with Ender Inciarte in left.
It further deepens the Braves' outfield stock while creating a logjam. That rosters have expanded to 26 this season could prove its value in this instance. The Braves could more easily carry five outfielders.
The Braves are blessed with versatile outfielders, meaning they'll have plentiful combinations to deploy. But Acuna and Ozuna will be in the lineup on a nearly every-day basis. Both are pivotal pieces of an offense that soared last season but is now tasked with replacing Donaldson.
An added bonus: The Braves aren't blocking their top outfield prospects, Cristian Pache and Drew Waters. Both players are expected to debut in the majors this season, but neither will be relied upon on the pennant-hopeful Braves. Their presences dissuaded the Braves from pursuing multi-year options in the outfield.
The third-base market had dried after Donaldson signed, making an outfielder the most logical means of the team adding pop. Barring another addition, Johan Camargo will likely start at third for the Braves, with youngster Austin Riley also in the mix.
