This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat publication. To learn the complete publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
ATLANTA — As an alternative of dwelling on all that went mistaken relationship again to final yr’s offseason, it’s time to look forward with 5 questions surrounding the Braves as they put together for what they hope to be a rebound season in 2026.
1) Who will likely be Atlanta’s shortstop in 2026?
Scott Boras purchasers are almost as uncommon as Tremendous Bowl trophies in Atlanta. However with Trevor Story presumably staying in Boston and Bo Bichette being a defensive legal responsibility, the Braves don’t have any selection however to make Kim their prime precedence.
In an ideal world, they might acquire decision concerning Kim early this offseason. This is able to enable them to understand how a lot they need to spend on all of their wants, none of which appears higher than upgrading on the shortstop place.
2) How ought to the Braves fortify their beginning pitching depth?
It wasn’t as in the event that they didn’t try to amass beginning pitchers final offseason. They’d visions of creating Jeff Hoffman a starter earlier than he failed his bodily. Had the Braves acquired Hoffman or another starter, it seemingly wouldn’t have been sufficient to beat six beginning pitchers lacking no less than six weeks (5 had been on the 60-day IL) this previous season.
Atlanta’s projected rotation for 2026 might be: Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo López and Hurston Waldrep. Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, Grant Holmes, Alek Manoah, highly-regarded prospect JR Ritchie (Braves’ No. 2 and No. 86 general per MLB Pipeline) and Didier Fuentes (No. 7) might all provide depth sooner or later.
However president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos confirmed including no less than one beginning pitcher is excessive on the precedence record.
López is a wild card as he returns from shoulder surgical procedure with some believing he is perhaps higher fitted to the bullpen. Holmes’ hope to keep away from UCL elbow surgical procedure might diminish at any level subsequent yr. Waldrep’s sturdiness ought to be fantastic as he accomplished 148 innings between the Triple-A and big-league ranges this yr. However you continue to prefer to have insurance coverage for younger pitchers like him and Schwellenbach.
So, coming off a yr like he simply skilled, anticipate Anthopoulos to do no matter he can to fortify his rotation by way of free company or a commerce.
3) Who would be the workforce’s subsequent supervisor?
When contemplating Walt Weiss, Eddie Perez or Fredi Gonzalez as candidates for the Braves’ vacant managerial job, you need to ask, if the Braves needed to stay with an identical method, why wouldn’t they’ve persuaded Brian Snitker to maintain the job?
Atlanta has had Bobby Cox, Gonzalez or Snitker as its solely three managers all the best way again to the center of the 1990 season. Will the workforce decide to maneuver in a brand new path?
Mark DeRosa has been talked about as a candidate, however some have questioned whether or not he ought to be a prime candidate. John Gibbons’ resolution to resign from the Mets’ teaching employees has fueled expectation he might be the Braves’ subsequent supervisor or bench coach. Gibbons was Anthopoulos’ supervisor in Toronto from 2013-15.
Anthopoulos might additionally go together with an up-and-comer like Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehmann or Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. Gibbons might be a bench coach possibility for any of those three potential candidates.
4) How ought to the Braves fortify their bullpen?
When Atlanta didn’t commerce Raisel Iglesias this season, some followers questioned if this was an indication the nearer would stick round past this yr. Nicely, he might have been traded and nonetheless re-signed this offseason. However now, he might simply be re-signed.
Iglesias and a wholesome Joe Jiménez would give the Braves a strong again finish of the bullpen. Pierce Johnson, Dylan Lee and Aaron Bummer will likely be again so as to add expertise. But when López is staying within the rotation, there’s seemingly nonetheless a necessity so as to add no less than one high-leverage arm.
5) Are there any harm issues?
A lot of final offseason’s focus was on the very fact the Braves would start the season with out each Ronald Acuña Jr. and Strider. Each exited inconsistent return seasons in encouraging vogue. As for Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies, their energy dip appeared to be a lingering impact from the hand/wrist accidents they sustained in the course of the second half of 2024.
