Braves Potential Free Agent Targets: Shortstops

This has all the makings of a fun offseason for the Atlanta Braves — the complete opposite of last winter, when Alex Anthopoulos essentially sat on his hands for five months.

A disappointing season can light a fire under any front office, and with the Braves having reset the luxury tax, there’s no excuse not to be aggressive once free agency begins and the trade market reopens after the World Series. If they aren’t, an already frustrated fan base has every reason to raise its pitchforks. This team brings in far too much revenue to be pinching pennies.

This continues a series where I cover the top free agent targets at each position of need for the Braves, moving on to shortstops. If you missed the first part from this series, follow the link below.

• Braves Potential Free Agent Targets: Designated Hitters

Braves Potential Free Agent Targets: Shortstops

Ha-Seong Kim

As things stand, it’s still unclear whether the Braves will even need to explore the shortstop market this offseason. Ha-Seong Kim holds a $16 million player option for next season, but given the thin crop of available shortstops — as you’ll see below — the expectation is that he’ll test free agency. Atlanta has already expressed interest in bringing him back, and despite Scott Boras representing him, there remains a relatively high chance Kim returns to the Braves, who are desperate for stability at the position.

Trevor Story

Trevor Story finds himself in a situation similar to Ha-Seong Kim’s. After a strong finish to his 2025 campaign — hitting .294 with 18 homers and an .839 OPS over his final 96 games — he could make a case for opting out. However, at 33 years old and showing signs of defensive decline, it might make more sense for him to take the guaranteed money and remain in Boston. Opting in would secure Story $55 million over the next two seasons, while opting out would mean betting that the open market values him higher. That’s a risky proposition for a player with a lengthy injury history and his best years likely behind him.

Bo Bichette

Bo Bichette is the crown jewel of this year’s shortstop free agent class, one of the few players left in baseball capable of hitting over .300. There’s nothing to dislike about his offensive game, and at just 28 years old, he’s positioned to land a massive payday this winter. The real intrigue, however, lies in how teams view his defense. There are already legitimate concerns about his ability to stick at shortstop long-term, and that’s not an area that typically improves with age. If the market values him as a true top-tier shortstop, it’s hard to see the Braves being serious contenders in those sweepstakes.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

After the top three, the drop-off is significant. Isiah Kiner-Falefa fits the mold of recent Braves shortstops — reliable with the glove but limited at the plate. He’s never posted an OPS above .700 in his eight-year career and owns a .660 mark overall. If the Braves completely strike out in their search, Kiner-Falefa wouldn’t be the worst fallback option, but it’s certainly not an acquisition that would excite fans.