The Atlanta Braves are already looking to the offseason to see how they can improve in 2026. Free agency and trades will be something they have to explore for most of their needs. However, there are a few internal options they could consider to fill any roles that become available due to a couple of players leaving in free agency.
Hopefully, Ha-Seong Kim decides to exercise his player option and stay in Atlanta. That would immediately address one of the Braves' biggest needs heading into the offseason, although whether or not Kim and Scott Boras will play ball is an open question. Let's check out three internal options that could replace pending free agents or at least fill the roles that they have been playing on the Braves' roster.
Here are some of the internal candidates to fill the voids left by the Braves' pending free agents
Tyler Kinley
If the Braves move on from Raisel Iglesias this offseason, they have a couple of internal options to consider replacing him. Pierce Johnson is one of them, but Tyler Kinley has a great case as well. Kinley has a 4.12 ERA this season, which includes some of his time in Colorado.
However, the Braves have unlocked something, and Kinley sports an absurd 0.45 ERA over 20 innings. He has walked six and struck out 19 during that span. Atlanta has found a way to help him cut down on his biggest struggle, which was walks. In the second half, he dropped his walk rate from 13.3% to 7.4%. Another great consequence of that is his strikeout rate ballooned from 21% to 30.5%
Combine that with his insane 94.4% left on base rate, and Kinley has shown his ability to be a great late-inning option. He's put up elite numbers in average exit velocity, chase, whiff, barrel, and hard-hit percentage. Those are all great qualities for a closer. If he can keep his walk rate down, Atlanta may have found another diamond in the rough from the Rockies.
Jurickson Profar
If Marcell Ozuna doesn't come back next year, Profar feels like the perfect candidate to be the Braves' designated hitter. Sean Murphy would work as a designated hitter in a part-time capacity, but who knows how healthy he will be next season to do that.
Profar has done pretty well this year for Atlanta, but his fielding leaves a bit to be desired (outside of some impressive plays here and there). The Braves could have someone like Jake Fraley play left field and allow Profar to DH. Atlanta could also find another decent outfielder in free agency and do the same. I doubt they will go this route, but it does make a lot of sense.
Hurston Waldrep
This feels like the most obvious option to replace Carlos Carrasco, who is the only starter who will become a free agent at the end of the season even though he is already back in the minors. Waldrep has proven he can succeed at the big league level, so it's a no-brainer that he will be in the rotation as long as he's healthy.
Waldrep owns a 3.04 ERA over eight starts with 18 walks and 50 strikeouts. The walk numbers are still a bit high, but he's shown better command overall. He's doing a good job of missing barrels, limiting hard contact, and getting ground balls. The two things he needs to improve are his walk and chase rates. If he can do that, Atlanta has another elite young starter in their rotation.