A barrage of pitching injuries and some underwhelming offensive performances resulted in Atlanta's first losing record and non-playoff season since 2017. The Braves can't rely just on better health to improve next year, as the club will at least explore upgrades at multiple roster spots.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Austin Riley, 3B: $155MM through 2029 ($20MM club option for 2030)
- Matt Olson, 1B: $88MM through 2029 ($20MM club option for 2030)
- Spencer Strider, SP: $69MM through 2028 (includes $5MM buyout of $22MM club option for 2029)
- Michael Harris II, OF: $54MM through 2030 (includes $5MM buyout of $15MM club option for 2031; Braves also have $20MM club option for 2032 with $5MM buyout)
- Sean Murphy, C: $45MM through 2028 ($15MM club option for 2029)
- Jurickson Profar, OF: $30MM through 2027
- Ronald Acuna Jr., OF: $27MM through 2026 (includes $10MM buyout of $17MM club option for 2027; Braves hold $17MM club option for 2028)
- Reynaldo Lopez, SP: $22MM through 2027
- Aaron Bummer, RP: $9.5MM through 2026
- Joe Jimenez, RP: $9MM through 2026
Option Decisions
- Chris Sale, SP: $18MM club option for 2026
- Ha-Seong Kim, SS: $16MM player option for 2026
- Ozzie Albies, 2B: $7MM club option for 2026 ($4MM buyout); Braves also hold $7MM club option for 2027
- Pierce Johnson, RP: $7MM club option for 2026 ($250K buyout)
- Tyler Kinley, RP: $5MM club option for 2026 ($750K buyout)
2026 financial commitments (if all options are exercised): $204.5MM
Total long-term financial commitments (if all options are exercised) = $561.5MM
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Jake Fraley (5.097): $3.6MM
- Joel Payamps (4.117): $3.4MM
- Jose Suarez (4.064): $1.5MM
- Alek Manoah (4.063): $2.2MM
- Dylan Lee (3.150): $1.9MM
- Eli White (3.140): $1.2MM
- Vidal Brujan (3.014): $800K
- Joey Wentz (2.166): $1.1MM
- Nick Allen (2.164): $1.5MM
- Non-tender candidates: Suarez, Fraley, Payamps, Manoah, Brujan, Wentz
Free Agents
- Marcell Ozuna, Raisel Iglesias, Carlos Carrasco, Charlie Morton, Sandy Leon, Jarred Kelenic, Alexis Diaz, Dane Dunning, Luke Williams
At the time of this post's publication, the Braves still haven't settled on a new manager. The team's hope was that Brian Snitker would return for an 11th season as manager, but Snitker will instead move into an advisory role for his 50th season in the organization. Snitker's decade in the manager's chair included six NL East titles and the 2021 World Series championship, but this outstanding run ended on the down note of a 76-86 record in 2025.
It is hard to imagine any manager could've shepherded this year's Braves team to glory given how nearly the entire rotation was lost to the injured list. Even with their season slipping away due to an 8-17 record in July, the Braves were one of the more active buyers (to some extent) leading up to the trade deadline just because the team was in such need of short-term rotation help.
Bryce Elder (and his 5.30 ERA) led all Atlanta pitchers with 156 1/3 innings, with Chris Sale finishing in second with only 125 2/3 frames. Sale missed over two months due to a ribcage fracture, but naturally his club option is still a lock to be exercised. Spencer Strider's recovery from internal brace surgery and a hamstring strain limited him to 125 1/3 innings, and he understandably didn't look nearly as dominant as he did in his All-Star 2023 season. Reynaldo Lopez made just one start before arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder ended up sidelining him for the rest of the season. Spencer Schwellenbach (fractured elbow) and AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery) were each pitching well before their seasons were ended in June. Grant Holmes' season was ended by a partially torn UCL in late July, and his status remains a question mark since Holmes is trying to rehab the injury without surgery.
Assuming no more offseason health woes, Sale, Strider, and Schwellenbach have places assured in Atlanta's rotation. Former top prospect Hurston Waldrep pitched well in his first extended taste of MLB action and put himself in line for a starting job in 2026. Holmes and Lopez are both tentatively penciled into the rotation for now, with the caveats of Holmes' health and the possibility that Lopez could be transitioned back into a bullpen role. Back in September, Anthopoulos stressed that the club still views Lopez as a starter, "but what if we have a bunch of starter trades that present themselves and so on? It would be a great problem to have."
Needless to say, the Braves are planning to bring at least one new addition into the starting mix. The fact that Anthopoulos mentioned trading for a starter first and foremost might at his preferred plan, which makes sense given how Anthopoulos has traditionally shied away from big-ticket free agent signings during his front office career. Anthopoulos has swung several creative trades over the years, and as we'll explore later, some players on the current big league roster could be trade chips just as easily as members of the Atlanta farm system.
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Typo on Riley’s contract, he’s signed through ‘32
Luis Castillo and J.P Crawford to Atlanta with Albies and whatever going to Seattle.
That would have to be a huge “whatever” since Castillo and Crawford are the two best players in the proposed trade.
Castillo’s contract is the issue. I don’t think anyone would give him $75 million over three years on the open market. Teams would look at his declining peripherals and factor in his home/road splits. Atlanta would be taking on an underwater contract to acquire Crawford.
The trade would help the Braves way more than it would help Seattle. Other teams aren’t sitting around thinking of how they can help the Braves.
Not true. Seattle needs $40 in payroll space more than they need Crawford and Castillo. This is a bigger picture move. Trying to win the trade isn’t going to move Seattle closer to their larger goal.
I would like to see Kim resign before he becomes a free agent, let’s get it done. Looked to me he enjoyed playing with the Braves. I think we should keep Murphy, as he’s been playing hurt, plus the fact he’s one of the better defensive catchers in the game. Last year was a nightmare, starting pitchers were going down daily it seemed. I’m sure going to miss Snit, he was a good one.
Offseason outlook: we won’t spend money on FA and then feel sorry for ourselves when we finish in 4th place.
Nontender manoah, payamps, and Suarez? Nah, thats 2 bullpen arms and the 4-5th starter for 26.
Braves are a mess. Farm thin on position players and roster is top heavy. Glass cannon of a team.
Dane Dunning doesn’t appear to be a free agent. He’s still arb-eligible: mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/rangers-trade-dane-dunn…
He became a free agent after he was outrighted off the roster.
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/braves-outright-jarred-…
Hopefully the Braves can resign Kim to a three year/15+ million per contract, but i suspect he can get more from another team equally as desperate for a starting SS. I have no clue what shortstops would be available in a trade.
I am sure any number of back of the rotation arms will be available for trade, i don’t think they’ve got the prospects to land a solid number 2 or 3. Hopefully Strider is closer to his old self next year and they’ll have better luck with arm injuries.
I would like to see them add a reliable 4th outfielder so they can rotate Profar, Acuna, and Baldwin at DH next year. No reason to pay someone to be an everyday DH.
One wild name for Braves shortstop in 2026 I have seen is Corey Seager, but I can’t wrap my head around the Braves having the prospects to entice Texas nor the desire to pay the rest of that contract. I could potentially see Javier Baez. He’s getting 24 million a year, but it’s only two more years, which might be ideal for the Braves.