MLB.com names free agent Braves could re-sign

The Braves suddenly have several of their own players hitting free agency after declining the options on Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley. Those two now join a group that originally consisted of Raisel Iglesias, Marcell Ozuna, and Ha-Seong Kim.

Both Johnson and Kinley were outstanding in a Braves uniform. Johnson appeared in 147 games across three seasons and posted a 2.91 ERA, including a 3.05 mark this year. Kinley, acquired at this season’s trade deadline following an underwhelming stint in Colorado, was nearly flawless in Atlanta, recording a 0.72 ERA over 24 appearances. There wasn’t much more either pitcher could have done to warrant being retained on their original options, but the Braves will have interest in bringing both back at lower prices.

Atlanta also appears to have at least some level of interest in bringing back Kim and Ozuna.

Alex Anthopoulos has been consistent in his stance on Kim: the Braves desperately need a competent shortstop, and they loved what the 30-year-old brought to the team over the final month of the season. Kim reportedly enjoyed his time in Atlanta as well, but as Anthopoulos noted at the GM Meetings this week, that only goes so far in free agency.

“It is business — always business,” Anthopoulos said. “Always business. Business means we see what happens.”

Anthopoulos also wouldn’t shut the door on a potential Ozuna return, even if the Braves clearly have more pressing issues to address before committing to a full-time DH.

“We haven’t closed the door on guys like Ozuna, but we just don’t know,” Anthopoulos said, via Mark Bowman of MLB.com. “We’ll see what opportunities present themselves in the winter. If someone who is a pure DH is the right move, we’ll make it. But right now, we’re not committed to anything.”

However, according to MLB.com, the one free agent the Braves are most likely to re-sign is their closer, Raisel Iglesias.

Iglesias may have been a trade candidate this summer, but he struggled for most of the first half and carried an ERA north of 5.00 on the week of the Trade Deadline. The 35-year-old looked like his old self during the final two months, allowing only one run over his final 27 appearances (0.34 ERA) while converting all 18 of his save opportunities.

A reunion makes a lot of sense. The Braves have more bullpen holes than bullpen answers at the moment, and Iglesias was as good as any closer in baseball down the stretch. He’s also unlikely to command the massive contracts projected for other elite relievers on the market.

Given their needs and the relative affordability of their own free agents, a case could be made for the Braves re-signing all five.