The 2026 season was a mixed bag for the Atlanta Braves, but one thing we do know is they did well as a group on defense. Their 23 Outs Above Average ranked fourth in baseball, while their fielding run value (19) and Fangraphs defensive rating (17.6) ended the season at seventh and sixth, respectively. There was certainly some room for improvement at select positions, but it was a solid team effort which has given a few players a chance at some end-of-season hardware.
Earlier this week, MLB announced the finalists for the Gold Glove awards. The Braves have four finalists: Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Chris Sale, and Mauricio Dubon. Olson and Harris were fairly easy choices, but both have a tough road to travel in order to win the Gold Glove given the level of competition at their positions. It was nice to see Sale get a finalist nod at his age, although he also faces an uphill battle, particularly with the Cardinals' Michael McGreevy.
As for Dubon, his continued dominance on the defensive side of the utility category should lead to one conclusion for the Braves: they absolutely need to re-sign him.
Braves absolutely cannot lose Mauricio Dubon in free agency, because the shortstop market is grim
In an ideal world, Atlanta could bring Dubon back, and he could serve in the role he is best at as a super utility player who can play anywhere. However, the Braves don't have a shortstop replacement ready going into 2027. Once you take a closer look at the free-agent market, things look even more grim.
If you look at the list of free-agent shortstops this offseason, you will see three names: JP Crawford, Jorge Mateo, and Ha-Seong Kim. Crawford is probably the best of the bunch, but he is a dreadful defender at this stage of his career and just posted a season with a subpar .687 OPS. Basically, the only thing the guy does well is draw walks, and that isn't enough to give him a spot as Atlanta's everyday shortstop.
As for Kim and Mateo, the Braves know both players well, and that is not good news. Mateo is best used as a (very fast) pinch-runner on the bench, and based on his performance last season, Kim is going to be fortunate to find a major league job at all in 2027. The Braves do have some shortstops on the way down in the minors, but none of them are going to be ready next season, and 2028 isn't guaranteed.
By re-signing Dubon, the Braves would reinforce their team defense, no matter the direction they go in. If they trade for a shortstop, Dubon can be the utility guy that he is and guard against regression at other positions (looking at you, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and left field). If not, he will be a very strong defender at short who hits enough to play every day.
It may not be the sexiest solution to the Braves' roster issues, but it could be the best one. One hopes Dubon's Gold Glove finish helps remind Atlanta’s front office just how bad the alternatives are.
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