Jeff Passan names 'perfect' offseason move for the Braves

The Braves’ laundry list of needs has only grown this offseason following their decision to decline the options on Tyler Kinley and Pierce Johnson. Atlanta now needs at least two or three high-leverage relievers, including a closer, as well as a shortstop, a starting pitcher, and another bat to replace Marcell Ozuna.

That’s a tall order to fill in one offseason, but as far as the “perfect transaction” for the Braves this winter, Jeff Passan recently outlined it over at ESPN.

The perfect transaction: Just how aggressive the Braves plan to be this winter is one of the biggest questions of the offseason. Like the Orioles, they bottomed out this year and return a core that with a tweak here and there could be championship caliber. Shortstop is the most glaring need for Atlanta, though beyond Bichette — whose defense there is fringy — there are few good options. Which leaves Atlanta needing to address the other of its deficiencies: pitching.

The emergence of Hurston Waldrep shores up their potential rotation this season, but the back end of the bullpen is insufficient. The Braves have shown a willingness to spend on a closer, and for a team that could find itself in close games, the most valuable fastball among all relievers in 2025 is a good place to start. Sign free agent closer Robert Suarez.

The Braves have signaled their intent to completely reconstruct their bullpen, and that could mean placing a stronger emphasis on velocity, something the group severely lacked last season.

Robert Suarez is one of the hardest-throwing pitchers in baseball, averaging 98.6 MPH on his fastball. He’s been an All-Star in each of the last two seasons, compiling 76 saves with a 2.87 ERA over that span. Acquiring him would be an excellent start to addressing what has quickly become the biggest hole on the roster. And since Suarez will be 35 years old next season, he likely won’t command a contract longer than three years.

If the Braves were to sign Robert Suarez, it’s very possible he’d represent their biggest free-agent addition this winter. This is an organization that has never been a heavy spender on top-tier free agents, even if there’s some hope that changes this offseason. However, Alex Anthopoulos has built a reputation for pulling off blockbuster trades during his tenure as general manager, and after such a disappointing 2025 campaign, it wouldn’t be surprising if he has something bigger up his sleeve.