While the Atlanta Braves have several roster areas that could use some love this offseason, the most glaring one is at shortstop. Ever since Dansby Swanson left to sign with the Cubs, the Braves have really struggled to find a lasting solution at one of the most important positions on the field. There was initial hope that Orlando Arcia could be that guy, but he cratered after a promising start, and the years since have seen some band-aid solutions put in place. That needs to change soon, and the Braves might have an intriguing opening to secure their future at the position.
The Braves do have some shortstop prospects who could be real options, so the team could re-sign Mauricio Dubon, let him hold down shortstop for a year, and see what happens after that. Given what free agency looks like this offseason, it isn't like they are missing out on much there if they decided to wait a year.
However, rumor has it that the Red Sox considered trading top shortstop prospect Franklin Arias at the deadline last year, according to a report from The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey. If Arias is actually available, the Braves should absolutely kick the tires, although odds of a deal getting done seem pretty low.
Among the many questions the Red Sox must answer this winter is when to promote top prospect, shortstop Franklin Arias next year and what it means for Trevor Story.
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) October 20, 2026
Digging into the issuehttps://t.co/PvcojrVToB
Braves should get involved in Franklin Arias' trade market, but it is unclear whether a match can be made or whether the Red Sox would play ball
In a vacuum, Arias is exactly what the Braves should be looking for in a shortstop. Arias can really hit, and while his power spike from 2026 may be a little optimistic, he still hits the ball with authority. Arias also fields the position well, and would obviously come with tons of team control as a guy who hasn't even made his big-league debut yet.
That said, the fact that the Red Sox previously floated Arias as trade bait doesn’t mean he is still on the table as a trade candidate. That same report noted that Boston did opt not to trade Arias, which could be a signal that they really, really want to keep him. Additionally, the types of players that could convince the Red Sox to part with Arias (young, controllable, productive) are not a demographic the Braves would probably want to give up right now. If you think the Red Sox would trade Arias one-for-one for Austin Riley, you are kidding yourself.
Still, the Braves and Red Sox have traded recently with each other, and both sides are motivated to make moves to help them compete next season. One potential factor in terms of optics is that Boston may not want to "lose" another trade with Atlanta given how lopsided the Chris Sale deal ended up so lopsided. However, that is a minor quibble. If Arias is actually available on the trade market, the Braves should get involved immediately, even if the odds of closing a deal are small.
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