After last offseason's disappointment, Atlanta Braves fans enter this offseason with justified hesitancy. It is believed Alex Anthopoulos gave the Braves more money to spend by declining the options of Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley about a week ago, but many fans are skeptical those savings will be put to good use this winter.
Plenty of big name free agents are now eligible to sign, and Atlanta has a clear need at shortstop, starting pitcher, and in the bullpen. However, the worry that exists in the fanbase clearly has not affected the free agency predictions from MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
In USA Today's MLB free agency predictions article, Nightengale picked the Braves to sign two of the biggest free agents on the market this winter in Bo Bichette and Dylan Cease.
Bo Bichette on a 7-year 210M type deal just feels right. Keeps him through his prime, rewards the production, and gives a team a true middle of the order bat at a premium position. Perfect fit for both sides.
— Cameron Maybin (@CameronMaybin) November 12, 2025
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Nigthengale thinks the Braves will spend big this winter, sign both Bichette and Cease
Adding Bo Bichette and Dylan Cease would improve any roster, but adding them to Atlanta's existing core would put them amongst the top teams in 2026 World Series odds. During the GM meetings, Anthopoulos confirmed that shortstop and starting pitcher are the top priorities for him this offseason. Signing Bichette and Cease would address those priorities with an emphatic statement.
During his tenure in Atlanta, Alex Anthopoulos has never gone swimming in the big pond for free agents. Handing out long-term contracts with AAVs north of $22 million just has not been part of Anthopoulos' game. Needless to say, signing both Bichette and Cease would buck the Anthopoulos free agency trend.
Most trusted free agency projection sites have both Bichette and Cease well into nine-figure contract range. MLB Trade Rumors predicted Bichette to sign an eight-year, $208 million contract. Meanwhile, MLBTR thinks Cease will land a seven-year, $189 million deal. The Braves have been linked to both Cease and Bichette for awhile now, but not many are expecting Anthopoulos to spend a combined $400 million to bring both players to Atlanta. If Nightengale's prediction comes true, the Braves will be well on their way toward the top-five payroll that Terry McGuirk suggested they are aiming for.
Atlanta's fanbase feels they need to see the Braves spend this kind of money before they can actually believe the team will make this big of a splash in free agency. The concern is certainly warranted, but perhaps Nightengale is on to something. Right now, signing Bichette and Cease is just a prediction from one MLB insider, but in the coming weeks, we are going to find out which of how many of these predictions fall flat, and how many spark a ton of excitement within Braves country.