Atlanta’s third $50 million offseason plan buys a right-handed threat and more on-base ability—even if it means accepting greater uncertainty in the rotation.
Why wasn’t Dubón re-signed? Walt Weiss said he was one of their best players. I’ve been a Braves fan since 1966 and his jersey is the only one I’ve bought. (#14 and I share a birthday.) The letter of appreciation I wrote to him at the end of the season is my only fan letter to a Brave since I wrote one to Hank Aaron. Dubón is the kind of player I most identify with. It sucks that he is no longer a Braves.
It's rare to have a guy get this close to free agency for the first time in his career and not at least enjoy the experience of going on team visits and seeing what the market will offer him. I'm not shocked in the slightest - I think only one player league- wide re-signed during the exclusive negotiation window, and it was a middle reliever
I wouldn't worry about Seiya's baserunning. In 2026, Richardson seemed to do better with those who we less expected to steal, and struggled with the ones who we expected to steal a lot.
MLB offering to postpone salary cap limits until 2028 hurts the Braves chances of dealing Profar. There only chance was to deal him to a team needing to get up to the floor.
Excellent three part essay. Sadly, none of the options generate much enthusiasm for me thanks to front office mistakes and injuries to pitchers. Trying to make Fuentes into an SP clearly weakens the bull pen with no guarantee he will thrive or avoid arm injury as they try to stretch him out as an SP. With Suarez tired arm in '26 and Dylan Lee's faltering the last two months of '26, the pen could well become a liability. It will be interesting to see how AA navigates these unpleasant dilemmas but the Murphy, Swanson, Profar mistakes will continue to haunt.
Great title Lindsay! Sums up the Braves situation perfectly. It’s so tempting to look at the names in the lineup, remember what they were once capable of and convince yourself they can get the job done. But the reality is they can’t. Riley, Albies and Murphy are not capable of being the players we remember. It’s going to be really hard and tricky to turn this offense around and I’m not sure it can be done without finding a way to move one or more of those 3 players and probably Profar as well.
The best full-season non-drug enhanced OPS+ in Profar's career is 109, and he was 29 years old at the time. He will be 33 this year, or 4+ years past his peak. I am not sure what you can pencil him in for.
Baseballs about to experience a drop into Irrelevance, like the World Series TV ratings.
I'm sure the Cheap-ass Liberity Media will vote with the Small Market Bottom
Feeders and wreck Baseball to save some Money.
Institute the International Draft and
Monkey with the Rule 4 Draft.
At my age (73) I'll watch way less baseball and learn to Knit.
NBA and Nfl are still fun to watch. Lakers are 7-2 despite Rob Pelinka. Cowboys are hapless 3-5 in 30th year under "Coach" Jerry Jones, post Jerry Johnson.
The Athletic linked the Braves to Several Top 40 free agent pitchers.
That Lefthander from the Orioles. But he's got a Qualifying Offer. It would cost a 2nd and 5th round draft pick. It would screw up our overslot/underslot draft strategy
That lefty reliver from San Diego. Not as a Closer but as a multi-inning reliever.
There were Multiple Starters they thought the Braves would be seriou about and one of the 4 or 5 most likely to sign.
Why wasn’t Dubón re-signed? Walt Weiss said he was one of their best players. I’ve been a Braves fan since 1966 and his jersey is the only one I’ve bought. (#14 and I share a birthday.) The letter of appreciation I wrote to him at the end of the season is my only fan letter to a Brave since I wrote one to Hank Aaron. Dubón is the kind of player I most identify with. It sucks that he is no longer a Braves.
It's rare to have a guy get this close to free agency for the first time in his career and not at least enjoy the experience of going on team visits and seeing what the market will offer him. I'm not shocked in the slightest - I think only one player league- wide re-signed during the exclusive negotiation window, and it was a middle reliever
I wouldn't worry about Seiya's baserunning. In 2026, Richardson seemed to do better with those who we less expected to steal, and struggled with the ones who we expected to steal a lot.
MLB offering to postpone salary cap limits until 2028 hurts the Braves chances of dealing Profar. There only chance was to deal him to a team needing to get up to the floor.
Excellent three part essay. Sadly, none of the options generate much enthusiasm for me thanks to front office mistakes and injuries to pitchers. Trying to make Fuentes into an SP clearly weakens the bull pen with no guarantee he will thrive or avoid arm injury as they try to stretch him out as an SP. With Suarez tired arm in '26 and Dylan Lee's faltering the last two months of '26, the pen could well become a liability. It will be interesting to see how AA navigates these unpleasant dilemmas but the Murphy, Swanson, Profar mistakes will continue to haunt.
Great title Lindsay! Sums up the Braves situation perfectly. It’s so tempting to look at the names in the lineup, remember what they were once capable of and convince yourself they can get the job done. But the reality is they can’t. Riley, Albies and Murphy are not capable of being the players we remember. It’s going to be really hard and tricky to turn this offense around and I’m not sure it can be done without finding a way to move one or more of those 3 players and probably Profar as well.
The best full-season non-drug enhanced OPS+ in Profar's career is 109, and he was 29 years old at the time. He will be 33 this year, or 4+ years past his peak. I am not sure what you can pencil him in for.
Baseballs about to experience a drop into Irrelevance, like the World Series TV ratings.
I'm sure the Cheap-ass Liberity Media will vote with the Small Market Bottom
Feeders and wreck Baseball to save some Money.
Institute the International Draft and
Monkey with the Rule 4 Draft.
At my age (73) I'll watch way less baseball and learn to Knit.
NBA and Nfl are still fun to watch. Lakers are 7-2 despite Rob Pelinka. Cowboys are hapless 3-5 in 30th year under "Coach" Jerry Jones, post Jerry Johnson.
The Athletic linked the Braves to Several Top 40 free agent pitchers.
That Lefthander from the Orioles. But he's got a Qualifying Offer. It would cost a 2nd and 5th round draft pick. It would screw up our overslot/underslot draft strategy
That lefty reliver from San Diego. Not as a Closer but as a multi-inning reliever.
There were Multiple Starters they thought the Braves would be seriou about and one of the 4 or 5 most likely to sign.
But no hitters except Dubon.
OK, i hope this isn't ffensive plagarism.
Sonny Gray. Look for a 2 year contract at $55 million
Trevor Rodgers (Qualifying offer) 4 years @ 84 million
29 year old lefthander.
Adrian Morejon lefty reliever
5 years 110 million
Kevin Gausman 2 years 40 million
Nick Martinez 2years 38 million
Raisel Iglesias 1 year 16 million
Mauricio Dubon infielder 2 years 21 million
Tyler Mahle 2year 32 million
Casey Mize 2 year 32 million
These were the guys the Athletic felt the Braves were one of the 4 or 5 most likely to sign
Not Mike Soroka, not Peralta, not King. Nor any Big Time B
Hitters