Everyday that passes by in the offseason, Atlanta Braves fans get a clearer picture of what their Opening Day roster could look like. Alex Anthopoulos has made multiple moves to improve the big league roster, but that does not mean he is finished quite yet. With plenty of talented free agents still on the market, current fringe Major Leaguers on Atlanta's roster continue to sweat out the remainder of the winter, hoping Anthopoulos' next transaction doesn't spell the end for them in Atlanta.
Some players find their way back into the organization, but others aren't so lucky. Here we will take a look at a couple of members of the 40-man roster who could be become forgotten fodder once Anthopoulos makes his next addition to the Major League club.
2 Braves players who could be on their way out as the calendar flips to 2026
Pitching continues to be the focus amongst the fanbase in Atlanta. The rotation could use reinforcements, and if Anthopoulos fulfills this need, Jose Suarez and Hunter Stratton could be out of a roster spot. Each player saw limited action in 2025, but nothing we saw gave us reason to jump through hurdles to keep either on the roster for 2026.
Even though Suárez avoided arbitration with the Braves by signing a one-year deal, he has a long MLB track record of inconsistent performance (career 5.30 ERA) and no remaining minor-league options. He was even designated for assignment earlier in the year before clearing waivers, and with Atlanta adding higher-profile arms to the bullpen, his roster spot becoming more valuable as they clean up the 40-man, Suárez’s lack of a clear long-term role makes him expendable if the team needs roster space or better performers.
As for Stratton, he has been up and down between Triple-A and the majors and has struggled to find consistency during his big league opportunities. His fastball averaged 96 mph last season, so the arm can be considered intriguing. However, the lack of swing and miss Stratton has always carried in his profile anymore make him another expendable bullpen arm.
Because the Braves have other bullpen options, especially with more established relievers and prospects pushing for spots, Stratton is a fringe bullpen piece at best. Both he and Suarez are someone who could be moved off the roster or attempted to sneak through waivers to clear space. If the Braves get a famous blue square soon, you can expect one of these fringe 40-man roster types to be the corresponding DFA.