With the World Series now in the books, the Braves’ offseason is officially underway. Negotiations with free agents can begin, club and player options must be decided on in the coming days, and the trade window is open.

Expectations are that this will be a busy winter in Atlanta. Alex Anthopoulos essentially went into hibernation last offseason, and the results spoke for themselves — the Braves missed the postseason for the first time in eight years. That can’t happen again with so much top-end talent already in place. The foundation is strong, but there are still several holes to patch if this team wants to view itself in the same tier as the Dodgers, who have now captured back-to-back World Series titles.

The question now becomes: which of those holes absolutely must be filled before the 2026 campaign? While the Braves reset the luxury tax last year, the payroll remains hefty, and it’s not as if they have unlimited funds. Some needs will inevitably take precedence over others.

Atlanta Braves Offseason Needs

• Shortstop
• Starting Pitching
• Closer
• Additional High Leverage Relief Pitching
• Outfield/DH

Braves Absolute Musts

Closer — MUST

Let’s get the most obvious need out of the way first. While there can be some debate about the severity of the Braves’ other holes, nobody can argue their need for a closer. With Raisel Iglesias set to test free agency, Alex Anthopoulos has to bring in someone with a wealth of experience finishing games. That could mean retaining Iglesias, or perhaps pursuing one of the younger, pricier options available on the open market.

High-Leverage Relief Pitching — Surplus Need

More bullpen help is always welcome, and the Braves could probably use another A.J. Minter-type arm in their relief corps. However, with Joe Jiménez returning from injury, the addition of Tyler Kinley, and Reynaldo López potentially moving back to a bullpen role, another high-leverage addition might not be essential — at least not during the offseason. The bullpen is something that can be reinforced relatively easily at the trade deadline.

Starting Pitching — MUST

Some might argue this isn’t a dire need, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Braves can’t continue relying on injured arms suddenly returning to All-Star form. Nobody truly knows what to expect from Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, or Reynaldo López next season. Perhaps they all excel, but it’s equally possible they struggle. Even Spencer Schwellenbach has yet to complete a fully healthy professional season, and Chris Sale might have the longest injury history of any pitcher in baseball. Adding another proven starter should be viewed as non-negotiable.

Shortstop — Semi-MUST

The Braves will likely make a strong effort to re-sign Ha-Seong Kim, but they won’t go beyond their comfort zone for a player coming off an injury-plagued season in which he posted a .649 OPS over 48 games. If another team swoops in with a four-year or longer offer, Anthopoulos probably won’t match it. That would leave Atlanta with few appealing alternatives in free agency. A trade is possible, but the reality is they could end up doing what they’ve done in each of the last three offseasons — relying on a journeyman stopgap and hoping for the best.

Outfield/DH — MUST

This doesn’t have to be the most expensive fix, but the Braves absolutely need another bat in the lineup with Marcell Ozuna hitting free agency — ideally someone who can also play the outfield, allowing Ronald Acuña Jr. to spend more time at DH next season. Atlanta made a run at Byron Buxton at this year’s trade deadline, showing they’re well aware of the need. However, given Jurickson Profar’s strong finish to the season, they may not aim quite that high this winter.

—