The offseason is going to be extremely critical for the Atlanta Braves ahead of the 2026 season. Fans are going to be skeptical of what to expect from the team after a down season. Not only that, but the front office will have to rebuild trust after promises broken ahead of the 2025 season.
Resetting the luxury tax penalty should encourage the front office not to be as conservative in their spending. Some moves will be more important than others, but the need to put a winning product on the field is paramount. No matter how big or small the addition is. One move in particular feels like the most obvious decision to be made first to kick things off.
Braves first offseason move must be signing Ha-Seong Kim to a multi-year contract
Ha-Seong Kim has to be the most surprising waiver claim of the 2025 season. He signed a contract with the Rays before the season, and it caught everyone off guard to see him moved. Kim's impact was felt immediately and had fans clamoring for him to remain beyond this season.
Atlanta has a massive need at shortstop as they don't have anyone internally ready to take over that role full-time. Kim proved he still has a lot of value in the field and at the plate. There's a lot to like about him, and it seems like he fits in well in the clubhouse.
Kim has a player option worth $16 million that he could exercise, and solve a massive need for Atlanta. However, he could also try his hand at free agency and decline that option. The Braves don't need to play around and risk losing Kim to another organization.
The first move they should make is locking Kim into a multi-year contract to bridge the gap until one of Atlanta's recent draft picks is ready to take the helm at shortstop. A three-year, $60 million contract should be more than enough to keep the talented South Korean native in a Braves uniform.
Is there risk involved here? Of course there is. But the prospect of having a very experienced and talented shortstop locked in for the next few seasons should outweigh that risk. It would also allow the Braves to solve their biggest question mark and focus on other areas of concern.