The core of the Atlanta Braves roster is set, but the task of putting the right pieces around that core is a work in progress, and it begins with removing 11 players from the 40-man roster. The process of trimming the roster begins with option decisions, which don’t look that difficult this year.
Options and extensions are the relatively easy part of the process
The Braves will pick up the $18 million option on Chris Sale, the $7 million options on Pierce Johnson and Ozzie Albies, and the $5 million option on Tyler Kinley, and decline David Fletcher’s $8 million option and pay the $1.5 million buyout. It would be a pretty massive upset if anything else
Hunter Stratton is a free agent as well, but he settled in and pitched, and the Braves clearly want to bring him back. While a rosterslot will open, expect him to sign back with the Braves and fill that spot.
Despite all the talk of how much he loves playing for the Braves and alongside his pal Profar, Ha-Song Kim will easily make more than his $16M option as a free agent, and an extension that pleases Boras before Kim tests free agency is unlikely, so he’ll hit the market and let the Braves bid for his services.
Joey Wentz is a free agent who isn’t a starter or a reliever. His early success after returning to the club vanished once hitters had seen him more than once. He’ll become a free agent. That leaves six roster slots open with Charlie Morton’s retirement and the departure of Raisel Iglesias, Sandy Leon, Marcell Ozuna, Kim, and Wentz.
Six roster slots open with Charlie Morton’s retirement and the departure of Raisel Iglesias, Sandy Leon, Marcell Ozuna, Kim, and Wentz.
Finders Keepers
It doesn’t take an expert to predict that the club will offer Dylan Lee a contract. He’s earned a nice pay raise in his second arbitration year. Jose Suarez pitched well, and lefty relievers who can also make spot starts are valuable, so I expect the club to bring both Suarez and Joel Payamps back. They’ve had their ups and downs, but Alex Anthopoulos loves the idea of resurrecting a pitcher’s career.
The Braves should keep Eli White. He’s played every outfield position and first base, and can play either of the middle infield positions, and has come through in clutch situations at the plate. Fangraphs says he’s been worth 0.9 fWAR, which is twice what Kelenic’s done in the last two seasons.
The Braves wouldn’t have claimed Alek Manoah unless they were at least considering keeping him. The club might, as MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald suggests, have Manoah report to one of their facilities to throw some bullpens as they take a close-up look at him before making a decision, but, for now, lets assume he stays.
Thanks for Your Efforts in the Past
The Braves spent over $22 million for the Jarred Kelenic experience, then spent millions more to find others to do the job he was hired to do. It’s time for Alex Anthopoulos to admit it was a huge mistake and nontender Kelenic.
Nick Allen is poised to become the first player to win a Gold Glove and could be nontendered in the season. The Braves have roster space to keep him, and Allen is well-liked in the clubhouse. However, he’s out of options, and bench players need a better bat than Nick carries. If he goes, Rafael Belliard will send a sympathy card.
The Braves will nontender Dane Dunning, Jake Fraley, Austin Cox, Alexis Diaz, and Vidal Brujan. Luke Williams and Brett Wisely are out of options and likely nontendered. Chuckie Robinson isn’t arb-eligible, and they may outright him, but either way, he'll leave the roster.
Those moves would leave 37 players (36 if they nontender Allen) on the roster.
That’s a Wrap
They've already made most of these decisions, but nothing is final until the announcement. After the dust settles, the club will need to find a shortstop if, as I suspect, they can’t bring Kim back, and while we love the idea of our best arms being ready for 2026, there are lots of question marks in the projected rotation, so adding a starter is also on the list,
If the Braves intend to use the catchers as the DH platoon, another catcher on the roster would make life easier, and the bullpen lacks a proven closer. All of that means the roster is far from set. Buckle up, the offseason is about to begin.