ATLANTA — With the official start of the offseason coming after the World Series’ conclusion later this week, here is a look at some of most pressing decisions the Braves will make over the next few weeks and months:
1. Who will be the next manager?
Before Ha-Seong Kim decides where he will be play in 2026, he would likely like to know who will be residing in Brian Snitker’s former office. Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann has felt like the favorite over the past couple weeks. But there’s always a chance Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos could make a surprise hire.
Tigers bench coach George Lombard and Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty seem qualified, while Dodgers first-base coach Chris Woodward has previously served as a big league manager.
There remains some uncertainty. But there still hasn’t been any sense that Mark DeRosa, David Ross or John Gibbons should be considered candidates.
2. What if Kim goes elsewhere?
Kim has until five days after the World Series to decide whether he will exercise his $16 million option for 2026. Atlanta has exclusive negotiating rights with the shortstop until then. This means the club at least has a chance to strike a multiyear deal with the former Gold Glove winner before he possibly declines the option and becomes a free agent.
A weak free-agent market for shortstops serves as a double whammy for the Braves. This gives Kim reason to test free agency, and it obviously limits Atlanta’s fallback options if he ends up signing with another team.
Bo Bichette’s bat might be attractive, but he ranked last among shortstops with a -10 fielding run value this year. And there’s an expectation Trevor Story will stay with the Red Sox. So you could argue Kim would be the best shortstop available this winter.
If Kim doesn’t return to Atlanta, Isiah Kiner-Falefa (another below-average fielder) would be another free-agent option. So the better option might be to find a shortstop via trade or to roll the dice on Nick Allen’s bat being sufficient within a lineup that has plenty of room to better its 2025 production.
3. Is there a need for a DH?
Time will tell what the Braves will get from Sean Murphy as he returns from hip surgery. Will he be the key contributor he was until the final month of the 2023 season? Or will he continue to be plagued by inconsistent stretches?
Whether he’s behind the plate or serving as a DH, Drake Baldwin should be in the lineup as frequently as possible moving forward. One day after the Trade Deadline passed without Marcell Ozuna being moved, Snitker said that was the plan. But Ozuna continued to get what seemed to be meaningless at-bats, given his unlikely return as a free agent this winter.
Instead of paying Ozuna or another possible DH a salary of approximately $15 million, the Braves could use that money elsewhere. This would create an opportunity to fill the DH spot with a rotating cast of characters.
Utilizing Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuña Jr., Jurickson Profar, Michael Harris II and both catchers in the DH spot should help keep all of the key players rested throughout the season.
4. Who should be added to the rotation?
Anthopoulos made it clear strengthening the rotation is one of this winter’s top priorities. The Braves have five solid starting pitchers in Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo López and Hurston Waldrep. They also have good depth options with Bryce Elder and Joey Wentz.
But now more than ever, you can never have enough starting pitching. The Dodgers are bidding for a second straight World Series title, despite having just two pitchers make more than 20 starts during the regular season.
Dylan Cease and Framber Valdez will be considered the top available free-agent starters. But it might be more valuable to gamble on a bounceback season from Zac Gallen. The trade route is another option. There are enough arms in Atlanta’s system to make a deal without significantly damaging future rotation depth.
5. Should Raisel Iglesias be re-signed?
Even if the Mets’ Edwin Diaz and the Padres’ Robert Suarez both opt out of their respective contracts, as expected, Iglesias would arguably be the third-best reliever available on the FA market this winter.
Yes, Iglesias will turn 36 in January. But the 1.25 ERA he posted over his final 45 appearances this year positioned him to continue making $16 million per season over the next couple years.
The Iglesias decision could come down to how much money is spent on the rotation. If the Braves pass on re-signing the veteran closer, there would be a greater argument to move López back to the bullpen to serve as the closer or a top setup man.
