2025 didn’t go the best way that many Atlanta Braves followers thought it could. Actually, many within the Braves group possible didn’t imagine that their roster would miss the postseason. Nonetheless, a depraved mixture of accidents, regression, and ineffectiveness doomed Atlanta to a 76-86, fourth-place end within the NL East. Supervisor Brian Snitker is not going to return to the crew, transferring right into a senior advisor position with the group he is spent 49 years with.
Now, the main focus for Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will probably be to enhance the present roster and get them again to the postseason. Atlanta can have a number of key free brokers in the marketplace this winter. Workers ace Chris Sale, the 2024 NL Cy Younger, has a membership choice. So does long-time second baseman Ozzie Albies. Current pick-up Ha-Seong Kim has a participant choice as nicely.
Some key unrestricted free brokers embrace designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and nearer Raisel Iglesias. Loads of depth gamers are scheduled to hit the market as nicely, however they are often changed by Anthopoulos. Ozuna’s presence in the course of the lineup, whereas not as potent because it was up to now, remains to be necessary. In the meantime, Iglesias has continued his regular pitching on the bullpen’s backend. Based mostly on the accessible gamers on the projected winter market, it feels as if Iglesias will probably be simpler to interchange. That may ring even more true if San Diego Padres nearer Robert Suarez opts out of his present contract. If that occurs, can the Braves reel him in?
Robert Suarez would give the Braves considered one of MLB’s greatest closers
Many of the Braves’ core is returning. Anthopoulos will possible train Albies’ and Sale’s choices. Kim will possible keep put as nicely, as he might wrestle to match what he is making on his participant choice on the open market. Shedding Ozuna could be a blow, however different free agent targets like Joc Pederson, Rhys Hoskins, Ryan O’Hearn, and Josh Bell might fill the open DH slot. Except Anthopoulos and the brand new supervisor determine to make use of one other bat, like veteran catcher Sean Murphy, in that position.
Changing Iglesias could be harder because the Braves haven’t got a ready-made choice. If Suarez elects to not choose out of his present deal, then resigning Iglesias would possible be the very best plan of action for Atlanta. But, it could be shocking to see Suarez pursue what is sort of definitely a much bigger contract coming his means. With the Braves, Suarez may very well be the lacking piece to yet one more potential postseason contender.
It feels as if the crew Anthopoulos has put collectively has a couple of extra playoff runs in it. It is definitely potential that they’ll as soon as once more return to the postseason in 2026, contemplating the variety of elements that led to the Braves’ regression this previous season. If Atlanta can lure in an elite nearer like Suarez, then their path again to October would possibly simply be a bit smoother subsequent 12 months. Particularly if their star-laden lineup can get again into its earlier contending kind.