The Atlanta Braves only have two players guaranteed to hit free agency once the World Series concludes, but according to Mark Bowman, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is expected to opt out of his $16 million player option for 2026. With that in mind, let’s play a quick game of buy or sell with three players who all have a case to return next season.

Raisel Iglesias

It’s borderline shocking that no contending team made a serious effort to acquire Raisel Iglesias at the trade deadline. Sure, he stumbled out of the gate early in the season, but he settled in nicely as the year progressed. From July onward, he was back to being one of the most reliable closers in the league. In what was his “worst” season in Atlanta, Iglesias still finished with a more than respectable 3.21 ERA, including a ridiculous 1.25 ERA over his final 45 appearances.

Given the Braves’ bullpen needs, bringing Iglesias back on a short-term deal — perhaps one or two years — makes all the sense in the world. He won’t command top-tier money, and his return shouldn’t prevent Alex Anthopoulos from adding another high-leverage arm this winter.

Verdict: Buy

Marcell Ozuna

Marcell Ozuna’s tenure in Atlanta has been complicated. Off-field controversy clouded much of his time with the Braves, but his production at the plate was undeniable — belting 79 home runs across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He’s also highly respected in the clubhouse and could end up being a sneaky value signing for someone this offseason, especially given that he’s entering free agency coming off an injury and a bit of a down year.

That said, it’s time for both sides to move on. With Ronald Acuña Jr.’s durability in question and Drake Baldwin needing more at-bats, Atlanta simply can’t afford to carry another player who’s strictly a designated hitter. Ozuna’s defensive days are long gone, and soon, so will be his days in a Braves uniform.

Verdict: Sell

Ha-Seong Kim

Like Iglesias, this one feels relatively straightforward. Alex Anthopoulos made it clear during his end-of-season press conference that the team would love to bring Kim back. The question is whether it makes sense financially. The shortstop market is expected to be deep, and while Atlanta values what Kim brings to the table, the front office has consistently shown it won’t overextend itself.

If Scott Boras plays hardball, as he loves to do for all of his clients, Kim returning to Atlanta feels unlikely — even if the Braves would love to get a deal done.

Verdict: Buy