Atlanta’s offseason hinges on three choices: add enough starting-pitching depth to protect Chris Sale, decide whether Mauricio Dubón should be the everyday shortstop, and determine if Raisel Iglesias is worth another high-priced, one-year deal.

By the Numbers
  • Sale posted a 196 ERA+ and averaged 96.1 mph on his four-seam fastball.
  • The Braves’ shortstops combined for a 67 wRC+; Dubón posted a 115 wRC+ at the position.
  • Iglesias has earned $16 million per season since 2023.
Yes, But

Keeping Dubón at short could stabilize the lineup, but it would reduce his value as a versatile defender—especially in left field. Re-signing Iglesias would bring experience, though the bullpen also has concerns about Robert Suarez’s elbow and Dylan Lee’s second-half decline.

State of Play
  • Sale, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder are the only current Braves projected to make 25-plus starts next season.
  • Health and workload questions surround several other rotation options, including Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider and prospect Didier Fuentes.
  • Atlanta could address left field by pursuing an everyday player or adding a right-handed bat to platoon with Mike Yastrzemski.
What’s Next

The Braves may need to add two starters, while weighing the cost of retaining Dubón and Iglesias against other roster needs. Their decisions will also depend on how they plan to use Fuentes and whether the rotation and bullpen are healthy enough to support those plans.

Bottom Line

Atlanta’s priority is balancing reliability with flexibility: protect Sale with real rotation depth, address the shortstop production gap, and avoid committing heavily to a bullpen that still has health and performance questions.