Braves get their shortstop, what is next?

By opting out of his player option for 2026, Kim earns an additional $4 million from the Braves while still giving himself the opportunity to re-enter free agency next offseason, when he could be an even hotter commodity.

2025 was really a year to forget for him. Coming off a shoulder injury, he appeared in just 48 games and struggled mightily, hitting .234 with a .649 OPS while providing roughly league-average defense at shortstop. The hope, however, is that now a full year removed from the injury, he looks much more like the player who averaged 3.8 WAR per season from 2021–2024 and won a Gold Glove in 2023.

The decision to bring Kim back has the Braves’ depth looking outstanding heading into the season. The outfield now features four starting-caliber options following the addition of Mike Yastrzemski, and the infield is well covered with Mauricio Dubon capable of filling in at any position, including the outfield.

It’s not even Christmas yet, and it’s fair to say most of the Braves’ heavy lifting this offseason is already done. Their remaining needs are centered almost entirely on the pitching staff. Even if the club feels confident about several starters returning healthy from injury, adding another proven arm for depth would be wise. The bullpen could also use at least one more reliable reliever after losing both Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley.

From my perspective, both of those should be non-negotiable. That said, Atlanta has already committed more than $60 million to the 2026 roster and is once again set to be among the league’s higher payrolls. There may not be a ton of money left to spend, which makes the trade market something to watch closely. I expect Alex Anthopoulos has one more significant move up his sleeve before the offseason is over.