Under new ownership, a Miami Marlins fire sale is a distinct possibility. That will make Giancarlo Stanton a hot topic during the offseason. But the Oakland Athletics are reportedly interested in Miami’s other two outfielders — Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich.
“One item on Oakland’s wish list this winter is a corner outfielder with several years of team control remaining, sources told The Chronicle on Wednesday,” Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported. “And with Miami’s new ownership looking to shed payroll, the A’s have interest in Marcell Ozuna and potentially Christian Yelich, though their preference is for a right-handed hitter.”
If the goal is a right-handed bat, Ozuna is the man. He enjoyed a career year in 2017, slashing at .312/.376/.548 with 37 home runs, 93 runs scored and 124 RBI. He also made his second All-Star team and won the Gold Glove Award. Ozuna has two has two more years of arbitration before becoming a free agent.
At least long-term, the better contractual situation for Oakland would be the left-handed hitting Yelich. He is owed $43.25 million through 2021, and has a $15 million option for 2022. Yelich slashed at .282/.369/.439 in 2017. He added 18 home runs, 100 runs scored, 81 RBI and 18 steals last season.