By in large, the Atlanta Braves are in a really good spot heading into 2025 after a truly disappointing and unlucky 2024 season. While a couple key players won't be ready to return by Opening Day, getting Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, Spencer Strider, and others back from the injured list early in the season is going to feel exceptionally nice for a fan base that is very much over losing stars for extensive periods of time.
That said, the Braves just banking on their injured guys immediately returning to form and not actively trying to upgrade their roster would be ill-advised and definitely would not go over well. One area of need for the Braves especially after trading Jorge Soler earlier in the offseason is in the outfield where Atlanta has apparently been active in exploring especially amongst the lefty bats.
With Jarred Kelenic failing to impress in 2024, the Braves seeking out alternatives makes a ton of sense as left field and shortstop are realistically the only spots in the lineup that Atlanta can easily upgrade this offseason. One option that could be a fun, short-term option would be to bring back old friend Jason Heyward.
JHEY FOR THE LEAD!!!#RELENTLESS pic.twitter.com/EoneWjzpnJ
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 25, 2024
The Braves reuniting with Jason Heyward makes a ton of sense, but would leave Kelenic's future uncertain
This is hardly the first time that a Braves reunion with Heyward has been floated. Heyward came up from the Braves' minor league ranks as one of the more hyped prospects in franchise history. While Heyward never quite lived up to that hype, he was still an insanely valuable player with the Braves from 2010-2014 when he averaged a .781 OPS and was arguably the best defensive right fielder in baseball before getting traded to the Cardinals before the 2025 season.
Since leaving the Braves, Heyward strung together a few really nice seasons before declining in recent years. Heyward put together a quality season in 2023 with the Dodgers, but struggled for much of the last four seasons other than that to the point where LA cut bait with him last season only for Heyward to latch on with the Astros before the playoffs.
Is Heyward anywhere close to the player he used to be? No, he is not. However, he did show signs of life after signing with Houston last season. He also still performs pretty well against opposing righties, walks a bunch, and remains an excellent defender. For a Braves team that just needs a competent platoon outfielder so that they don't have to bank on Jarred Kelenic figuring things out finally, that is all they would really need and it would allow Heyward to come home for one last run.