If you asked most fans who follow the Atlanta Braves, they would easily be able to tell you exactly what the team’s needs are this offseason. The Braves currently lack an MLB shortstop, have a gaping hole in left field (especially with Jurickson Profar likely to be sent packing), and both their rotation and bullpen need reinforcements. This isn't exactly rocket science.
Unfortunately, the Braves' needs being painfully obvious hasn't stopped some experts from getting them wrong. Recently, The Athletic's MLB insider Jim Bowden went through and tried to identify every MLB team's biggest offseason need. True to form, Bowden ignored his self-imposed limitation and gave Atlanta two different answers, but still somehow managed to miss that they don't have a shortstop at the moment.
Biggest needs for all 30 MLB teams as they prepare for next weeks GM mtgs in Las Vegas: https://t.co/byF36ye6lV
— Jim Bowden⚾️ (@JimBowdenGM) November 3, 2026
Jim Bowden missing Braves' shortstop need completely ignores a key piece of offseason conversation in exchange for cheap clicks
Look, if Bowden limited himself to ONLY one offseason need for every team, maybe you can make an argument for ignoring the Braves' offense completely. They do have left fielders under contract (for better or worse), and Atlanta does need help in their rotation. The problem is that Bowden didn't limit himself with the Braves or almost any other team’s needs on his list. Sorry, Jimbo, but "offense" and "pitching" are not the limiting terms you think they are.
In fact, not explicitly mentioning the Braves’ shortstop need at all appears purposeful when you consider how he handled the rest of the article. Bowden made sure to go through and name Tyler Mahle and Raisel Iglesias as potential departures, and he even revisited the Jacob deGrom-Braves trade rumors from the deadline. In that world, how is it possible he just forgot the Braves don't have a viable starting shortstop?
Well, he probably didn't forget. If you are truly cynical, you may wonder if Bowden is trying not to draw attention to Ha-Seong Kim's spectacular implosion with the Braves, given that his agent is Scott Boras, who may or may not be a primary source of rumor leaks to reporters. Perhaps the omission is simply Bowden doing Boras a solid with a guy that the agent still has to figure out how to employ elsewhere.
The more likely explanation, however, is that Bowden didn't mention shortstop simply because there are no exciting shortstop free agents to allude to. That doesn't explain why he didn't mention left field, as Randy Arozarena is one of the best bats available on the market, period, but it is difficult to get people jazzed about Atlanta's offseason if their best option is re-signing Mauricio Dubon. Bowden, for better or worse, tries to generate clicks and doesn't necessarily care much about being right or thorough. Unfortunately, he is far from the only expert out there who is guilty of that sin.
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