The Atlanta Braves have several questions they need to answer heading into 2027. Some are well-known, including their future at shortstop, assembling enough rotation depth, and deciding what to do with Jurickson Profar/left field. Some of those issues will hopefully be addressed with free agent signings or trades, but it would be great if some of the Braves' injured players could chip in to help the cause.
By the end of the season, the number of walking wounded in Atlanta had subsided somewhat, but it was still a difficult year when it came to injuries. Heading into the offseason, there remain some unanswered questions about what Atlanta can expect from several injured players, although there are updates that provide some clues.
Here are the Braves' injured players and where they stand heading into the offseason
As always, things can change pretty quickly here with just one update. This is a brief look at a moment in time while the World Series is still going on and nothing more.
The free agents
- Joe Jimenez
- Martin Perez
Two of the Braves' injured players are headed to free agency, though it wouldn't be shocking to see the team reunite with one or both of them. Joe Jimenez has been recovering from a career-threatening knee issue for the better part of two years, while Martin Perez went on the shelf at the end of the season (and during the postseason) with a back injury.
Jimenez is particularly tough to peg going forward. While he is a great reliever when healthy, we haven't seen him pitch in games for so long. Atlanta could be tempted to run things back again with Perez and hope for a repeat, although it may not be wise to do so and write his spot in the rotation in ink given his age, profile, and the fact that he didn't last the entire 2026 season.
The injured Braves players still under contract for 2027
- Spencer Schwellenbach
- Spencer Strider
- Hurston Waldrep
- Bryce Elder
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Joey Wentz
Among those who are still under contract, the one guy that almost certainly won't be available next season is Hurston Waldrep. Unfortunately, Waldrep underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-September, and there is little to no chance that the Braves will try to rush him back in 2027.
Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider are wild cards right now. Strider is avoiding another arm surgery for now, but he has been out since June with elbow inflammation, and didn't progress enough to return during the season. Schwellenbach is a weirder case, as he required a screw to be inserted in his broken elbow in August. There is no guarantee that Schwellenbach will return next season, but it is a weird recovery timeline, and the Braves are not ruling out the possibility.
Joey Wentz is recovering from a torn ACL, but he could also be a non-tender candidate at this point. Bryce Elder had arthroscopic surgery on his knee, but was progressing toward a quick return before the Braves were eliminated from the playoffs. You can probably expect him to be in camp next spring. As for Reynaldo Lopez, his throwing shoulder remains a problem. If he is available at the start of 2027, he may need to shift to the bullpen. However, it also wouldn't be surprising if Lopez's shoulder issues are bad enough that he ends up needing to go under the knife.
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