The Orioles appear headed into an active winter, and that puts one name squarely in the middle of the conversation: Gunnar Henderson.
According to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner, Baltimore is open to listening on just about everyone as it looks to reshape the roster. Kostka reported that the Orioles’ priorities are to upgrade the rotation and the outfield, and that “every player except Pete Alonso” is available in trade discussions, though that “doesn’t guarantee drastic change.”
That kind of openness is a long way from where this organization seemed headed a few years ago, when Baltimore looked loaded with young talent and one of the strongest farm systems in the game. Instead, the Orioles already made one stunning move at the deadline by sending Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox, and more change could be coming.
For the Braves, Henderson jumps off the page immediately. Shortstop has been Atlanta’s biggest issue since Dansby Swanson left for the Cubs after the 2022 season. The Braves have some interesting in-house options on the way, but none are close to the majors, and it’s still too early to know whether any of them can handle the position defensively.
Atlanta is built to win now. Chris Sale is nearing the end of his career.
Ozzie Albies is in the final year of his contract. Ronald Acuña Jr. has two years left.
Matt Olson isn’t getting any younger. That makes this the kind of moment when a front office should take a real swing, and Henderson would give the Braves a different kind of lineup and a much-needed answer at shortstop.
He’s not coming off his best stretch, but the ceiling is obvious. Henderson put up 8.8 WAR a couple of years ago and finished fourth in AL MVP voting.
Even with the dip over the last two seasons, he’s still a borderline All-Star shortstop, which would be a massive upgrade over what Atlanta has run out there in recent years. He’s also only 26 and under team control for a few more seasons, which makes him the sort of player the Braves could try to keep around long term.
The price, though, would be steep. The source material makes clear that landing Henderson would likely require all three of Atlanta’s top prospects in Eric Hartman, Cam Caminiti, and Tate Southisene.
Major-league-ready pieces like A.J. Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie would also be in play.
That’s the kind of package that would sting, but for a player with Henderson’s track record and control, it could be the move that changes the shape of the Braves’ roster.
If Henderson isn’t available, the Orioles don’t offer much else that would really move the needle for Atlanta. Jackson Holliday could be a buy-low target.
Kyle Bradish is intriguing if he can stay healthy and return to his best form, though Baltimore seems more likely to be looking for pitching help than dealing it away. Still, Henderson is the name the league will be watching, and if the Orioles get serious about a blockbuster, the Braves ought to be right at the front of the line.
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For a club that has leaned on recent success while trying to smooth out lingering issues, the decision suggests Atlanta sees the answers as internal rather than structural. The front office is betting the same voices in the dugout and on the field can keep pushing the team forward, even as the pressure remains to turn that stability into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
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The decision also keeps attention on the broader direction of the club, especially the offense and the way it is being taught. Tim Hyers has drawn scrutiny in some corners for how the lineup has looked under his watch, and the Braves are still leaning into a philosophy that asks for a lot of damage when contact is made. For a fan base that has not fully embraced that approach, the next stretch will be about whether the results can keep matching the confidence behind the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Face A Familiar Shortstop Decision With Time Still Ticking
The Braves still have a familiar winter puzzle in front of them at shortstop, and it is one they cannot simply hand off to a prospect timeline. With Ha-Seong Kim and Mauricio Dubon both now free agents, Atlanta is staring at a position that remains unsettled for the upcoming season, even as the organizations internal options are not viewed as close to ready.
Dubons case is the one worth watching because his fit in Atlanta is obvious. He gave the Braves a dependable defensive presence while filling in during Kims injury, and the mutual interest around a possible return gives the club at least some reason for cautious optimism. For now, though, the situation remains in the holding pattern that tends to define this part of the offseason, with no official progress yet to point to and a decision still hanging out there. [Read more 🡒]