Unsurprisingly, the Atlanta Braves plan to exercise the $16 million option on Marcell Ozuna’s contract on Monday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The 33-year-old was fantastic during the 2024 campaign, hitting .302 with 39 homers, 104 RBIs, 96 runs, 31 doubles and a .925 OPS, earning his third All-Star Game berth. It’s a big reason why the Braves were able to reach the playoffs despite season-ending injuries to star players Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley and Spencer Strider, as well as a rash of injuries in the team in general.

Atlanta’s October baseball was short-lived, as the San Diego Padres eliminated them from the Wild Card Round. But winning 89 games and even having a chance at the playoffs was a minor miracle and a testament to players like Ozuna, Chris Sale, Matt Olson, Max Fried, Michael Harris Jr. and Ozzie Albies.

So, heading into the offseason, there was no doubt that Ozuna would return:

“These guys have had great years,” Braves general manager and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said. told reporters concerning the trio Ozuna, Bummer and d’Arnaud, “they therefore put themselves in good conditions (to come back).”

And Ozuna confirmed in May that he wanted to stay in Atlanta.

“I want to play for a few more years, but I want to finish here,” he said. Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s good and I don’t want to keep moving and (having to) make new friends and new teammates. We’ll see what happens. It’s not my decision. My decision is already made up. God gives me the opportunity to end up here, I will end up here If God gives me the opportunity to be elsewhere, I will be elsewhere wherever God places me in my destiny, I will take it.

From now on, he will apparently stay in Atlanta.