The Atlanta Braves exercised a $16 million option on Marcell Ozuna’s contract for next season but declined an $8 million option on Travis d’Arnaud, making the veteran catcher a free agent and providing another indication they’re preparing to make at least one big free-agent signing.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Monday the Atlanta Braves planned to exercise their club option with designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. But they won't do the same with catcher Travis d'Arnaud. The AJC's Justin Toscano confirmed Heyman's report Monday that the Braves exercised Ozuna's club option.

The Braves announced that they have declined their club options on catcher Travis d'Arnaud and right-hander Luke Jackson while picking

Conversely, the front office is potentially parting ways with two other members of the 2021 World Series club. The Braves are declining catcher Travis d'Arnaud's $8 million option, per ESPN's Jeff Passan, as well as the $7 million option on relief pitcher Luke Jackson's deal, per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

It was a busy Monday for the Braves because along with the free agent moves, the team moved OF Ronald Acuna and Pitchers Ray Kerr, Angel Perdomo, Spencer Strider and Huascar Ynoa off of the injured list and added them back to the team’s 40-man roster.

Earlier on Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves completed a no-brainer of a move when they exercised the club option for Marcell Ozuna and locked him in for another season. It sure seemed like Travis d’Arnaud would also be locking in as well,