The Atlanta Braves brought back a familiar face this morning, and we're not talking about the Dana Brown reunion. Infielder Vidal Bruján has reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with Atlanta and is expected to be one of several players who will compete for a bench job this spring.
Some may remember Bruján playing with the Braves late in the 2025 season. That year, he appeared in 23 games and slashed .268/.362/.317 with a 0.5 bWAR while playing a few different positions defensively. Last season, Bruján failed to stick at the Major League level with the Mets, playing in just nine games throughout New York's disappointing season.
Braves Sign Vidal Bruján To Minor League Deal https://t.co/TsSMLQTiPs pic.twitter.com/MDC1expBdd
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 1, 2026
Braves sign Vidal Bruján to minor league deal as first sign of Mauricio Dubon insurance
Obviously, the Braves have a huge question mark at shortstop in 2027, and Mauricio Dubon is arguably the best free agent option to fill that void. Admittedly, signing Bruján serves as zero hindrance in bringing back Dubon, but it is important to have some semblance of a backup plan.
It's kind of the same method Alex Anthopoulos took last season when he traded for Dubon. That move was a way of saying the team was comfortable with Dubon at shortstop if needed, and gave Anthopoulos a little bit of leverage in the Ha-Seong Kim negotiations. Of course, Bruján's track record is not as impressive as Dubon's, but collecting numerous players in the Bruján or Jim Jarvis mold will help Anthopoulos in his pursuit of an everyday shortstop.
Dubon posted a 2.7 bWAR in 153 games for the Braves last season, so it will be interesting how other teams determine his value this winter. With the uncertainty of the offseason, expect a flurry of minor moves like Bruján and truly news-breaking moves like a possible Dubon signing this November.
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