Atlanta Braves 2025-2026 Offseason Wish List

Bo Bichette is trickier. His glove is a real concern (-17 OAA, 12 errors last season), and his knee injury only adds more questions about his long-term future at shortstop. But the bat is undeniable with a .294/.337/.469 career slash and .806 OPS.

Yet, the contract he is seeking may just not be worth it for Atlanta. Bichette has a qualifying offer attached, so Atlanta would be set to lose the PPI pick they just acquired with Drake Baldwin winning Rookie of the Year.

I love the player, but between the timing and situation I’m am not fully sold on the idea of signing Bichette.

After those two, free agency falls off sharply with Luis Rengifo, Willi Castro, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Jorge Mateo, and Amed Rosario as options. That brings us to the potential trade market.

Trade Targets: Corey Seager, Jordan Lawlar, Alex Freeland

Trading for a shortstop is never easy. It takes the right situation and right package to get the deal done. In terms of trading for a Corey Seager, it feels more like a fantasy. But if the rumors are true and Texas may look to shed payroll, Atlanta should absolutely inquire. Nobody would complain about what it may take after seeing his left-handed power aimed at the Chop House.

Jordan Lawlar seems to be stuck in purgatory with Arizona. He dominates the minor leagues, but has struggled during his times in the big leagues. Behind Geraldo Perdomo, he could potentially be pried loose if Arizona looks to add more pitching.

The Braves and Dodgers haven’t executed a trade since the Matt Kemp deal, so a deal for Alex Freeland could be a long shot. Seemingly without a spot in Los Angeles, he is a utility infielder who spent plenty of time at shortstop in the minor leagues. He could be worth at least the conversation.

Of course, predicting an Anthopoulos trade is a fool’s errand. When a move looks obvious, he zig-zags elsewhere. He loves to keep you on your toes.

2. Bullpen, Bullpen, Bullpen

For years, Atlanta had a reliable, often elite bullpen. In 2025 however, they finished 19th in ERA (4.19) and 11th in WHIP (1.26). Injuries, regression, and a heavy reliance on bargain-bin pickups left the staff stretched thin.

As mentioned, Atlanta declined the options of Tyler Kinley and Pierce Johnson. Rasiel Iglesias is a free agent as well. There is a glaring need for arms in the bullpen for new manager Walt Weiss.

Free Agent Targets: Robert Suarez, Devin Williams, Pete Fairbanks, Kyle Finnegan, Rasiel Iglesias

Every bullpen starts and end with the closer, literally. For the overwhelming majority of Rasiel Iglesias’ tenure in Atlanta, he was one of the better closers in baseball. A reunion with Atlanta is very well possible.

If Atlanta wants to swing bigger, Robert Suarez and Devin Williams have been too of the most dominant closers in baseball. Both will be in high demand and will cost a pretty penny, but history has shown the Braves are willing to spend in the bullpen. Either would instantly raise the team’s ceiling.

If Atlanta is outbid for these two elite arms, Pete Fairbanks or Kyle Finnegan would be more affordable alternatives.

A bullpen also needs depth behind the closer. Shawn Armstrong, Luke Weaver, Seranthony Domínguez, or even a reunion with Tyler Kinley or Pierce Johnson makes sense. Anything but another round of journeyman lottery tickets again. At least three quality arms should be the goal.

3. Add Another Impact Bat

Watching the Braves’ offense sputter last season was unsettling. This is a group that shattered records in 2023 and won 89 games in 2024 despite an avalanche of injuries. The talent is still there, but relying solely on rebounds is dangerous.

However, I would like to see Atlanta improve the offense even more. There is no reason to be complacent, especially after seeing last season. Barring the signing of Bo Bichette or a trade for Corey Seager, this offense needs more than just a slight upgrade at shortstop.

Ideally, I want to see the Braves bring in a bat that can rotate in the outfield. This would provide guys like Profar and Acuña Jr. the chances to get off their feet without taking their bats out of the lineup. But adding a bat, even if not an outfield, is important.

Free Agent Targets: Cody Bellinger, Jorge Polanco, Song Sun-Mun

Atlanta won’t be in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, but Cody Bellinger is a perfect fit. After a bounce-back year in the Bronx, the Yankees may very well pay him enough to stick around. But if they were to go big fish hunting for Tucker, Bellinger’s defensive flexibility and offensive potential is intriguing.

I would be surprised if Jorge Polanco leaves Seattle after his postseason heroics, but he would be an infield option I would love. A switchhitter who can play second and third base, he would be a fun addition to an already dangerous lineup.

Song Sun-Mon is an intriguing KBO bat who has posted over a .900 OPS and slugged a combined 45 home runs in his last two seasons. It’s a risk, but given Ha-Seong Kim’s success with similar output before coming stateside, he is worth the look.

Other options like Lane Thomas, Max Kepler, Cedric Mullins, or Harrison Bader exist, but the trade market may offer more upside.

Trade Targets: Byron Buxton, Brendan Donovan

Byron Buxton had emphatically stated last season that his desire is to stay in Minnesota. However, recently, he may have started having a change in heart. The connection is obvious, hailing from Baxley, GA, who was set to play baseball at the University of Georgia prior to being drafted.

Of course, there is always a worry about health when it comes to Buxton; but coming off of a year where he put up an .878 OPS and slugged 35 home runs across 126 games the reward is clearly worth the risk.

Brendan Donovan might be one of the most practical, high-impact targets in the league. He is a utilityman who has seen time at nearly every position on the field. Donovan has posted at least a 115 wRC+ and 88th-percentile strikeout rate in each of his four MLB seasons. His elite bat-to-ball skills and ability to play everywhere would transform the Braves’ lineup flexibility.

f St. Louis finally sells, Atlanta should be among the first in line.

4. Starting Rotation Depth

If there’s one lesson Braves fans learned from last season, it’s that you can never have enough starting pitching.

The projected 2026 rotation of Sale, Schwellenbach, Strider, Waldrep, Lopez, Elder is strong, but the depth behind it is shaky with Smith-Shawver out and Holmes’ status uncertain. The need to acquire another starting pitcher may be last on my list, but it is still an important one. The Braves do not want to see injuries to the rotation deflate an entire season yet again.

A top of the rotation arm isn’t neccessary, although it would create one of the most dangerous rotations in all of baseball. The rotation needs stability and consistency.

As I mentioned with Bichette, I am hesitant on signing a player with a qualifying offer attached. This means passing on Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Michael King, Brandon Woodruff, Shota Imanaga, and Zac Gallen.

Free Agent Targets: Dylan Cease, Chris Bassitt, Merrill Kelly

You may have noticed a certain arm list on that list above, and this is by no mistake. The only other realistic player I’d welcome with a qualifying offer is Georgia native Dylan Cease. The hometown factor is fun, but he has also made at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons.

Cease is known for elite whiff and strikeout rates, which would create quite the fun rotation. He has been a target of mine for years now, and we know Anthopolous has tried to sign him in the past.

My favorite overall fit on the market is Chris Bassitt. Although entering his age-37 season, he has also made at least 30 starts in his last four seasons. He provided his team with reliability and a chance to win in seemingly every single start while posting a 3.77 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. This would be an ideal floor-rising addition to a rotation filled with ceiling-risers.

Merrill Kelly would also give the Braves rotation a similar boost. Starting at least 30 games in five of his seven MLB seasons to a 3.77 ERA, Kelly wouldn’t be a flashy signing but one we would feel the importance of in the dog days of the season.

Trade Targets: Sonny Gray, Brady Singer, Luis Severino

Sonny Gray has been linked to Atlanta for years. He is from Tennessee and played baseball at Vanderbilt, so the Braves Country connection is strong.

Even though he is entering his age-36 season, Gray still posted a 31.2% chase rate, 27.5% whiff rate, 26.7% strikeout rates, and just a five percent walk rate, all ranking in the top half of the league. With two years of control left and still owed $65 million, Gray is a perfect trade candidate for a team looking to sell.

The Reds are not necessarily looking to sell, but Atlanta could look at their logjam of starters for a potential target. If Cincinnati wants to reallocate the estimated $13 million he may garner in arbitration, the Braves should check in.

Last offseason, the Athletics made a surprising slash by signing Luis Severino to a three year, $67 million deal. However, he has made it quite known that he is unhappy pitching in West Sacramento. Severino had a down season and is owed $25 million next season with a $22 million player option for 2027.

For Atlanta, they may look back to his 2024 season with the Mets and his 3.91 ERA, 35.6% hard-hit rate, and 46.3% ground-ball rate under the direction of Jeremy Hefner, the Braves new pitching coach.

Recap of the Braves Offseason Checklist

This is the most important offseason of the Alex Anthopoulos era. The core is championship caliber, but Atlanta needs more than just marginal improvements. After missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2017, there needs to be urgency in the front office to improve the roster.

Shortstop should be the highest priority, as it will set the tone for how much money the front office has left to spend. The bullpen needs at least three more arms, and unless the shortstop acquisition is Bo Bichette or Corey Seager, another impact bat is needed. The veteran starting pitching market should be filled enough to grab someone that provides the depth the rotation needs.

Despite a quiet offseason and trade deadline last year, Alex Anthopolous is known to be aggressive. The tricky aspect of Anthopolous is that he rarely allows his plans and actions to leak, leaving everyone left in the dark until news breaks. Chairman Terry McGuirk iterated to investors on the most recent earnings call that his goal for the Braves is to have a top-five payroll.

I know for some Braves fans patience is running thin, but this front office knows what’s at stake. This offseason will define the next phase of Braves baseball.