The Braves have never been shy about going back to a familiar face, and this offseason could give them another chance to do it. With a handful of former Atlanta players heading toward free agency, there are a few reunions that make obvious sense for a 2027 club that could use help in a few key spots.
A.J. Minter sits near the top of that list.
His stint with the New York Mets clearly did not go the way anyone hoped. Minter was effective whenever he actually got on the mound, but a lat strain kept him out for more than a year, and by the time he returned, New York’s season was already unraveling.
Even so, the left-hander did enough to get moved at the deadline, landing with the Minnesota Twins, where he posted a 2.78 ERA in 22.2 innings. Across his two-year deal, he made $22 million and logged a 2.38 ERA with a 3.97 FIP in 56.2 innings.
Given the injury concerns and his age, it seems unlikely he’d command that kind of money again, which could put him squarely in Alex Anthopoulos’s range. And with the Braves potentially needing another high-leverage arm - especially if Didier Fuentes moves to the rotation, Raisel Iglesias reaches free agency, Robert Suarez’s health remains a question, and Dylan Lee’s late-season performance leaves some uncertainty - Minter would make a lot of sense.
Michael Soroka is another name that fits. He and the Arizona Diamondbacks hold a $10 million mutual option for 2027, but it would be surprising if Soroka accepted it, especially since the last mutual option to be picked up came back in 2015.
Soroka comes with risk, and he’d cost more than a typical bounce-back gamble, but he also just put together his best season as a starter since 2019. The 29-year-old worked 116 innings, only the second time in his career he has topped 100, and finished with a 3.41 ERA and 3.19 FIP.
With so many questions around Atlanta’s rotation, a multi-year deal for Soroka could give the Braves real middle-rotation depth and some upside.
Sean Newcomb is a different kind of reunion, but a sensible one all the same. Some Braves fans may still be surprised he’s hanging around in the majors, yet he has carved out a useful role as a left-handed middle reliever.
This season was one of his best, as he threw 90.1 innings with a 3.09 ERA and 3.21 FIP. He made $4.5 million this year and would probably get a raise in free agency, but after back-to-back strong seasons as a multi-inning reliever, he’s the kind of arm that helps a bullpen stay deep and competitive.
Then there’s Chadwick Tromp, who wouldn’t require much fanfare at all. Not every reunion has to be a headline move, and not every addition has to be on the big league roster right away.
Tromp has already come back to the Braves once after moving on, and another minor league deal before spring training would not be a surprise. Atlanta already has Drake Baldwin set for the bulk of the work behind the plate and Sean Murphy locked in as the backup with two more years left on his deal, but 2026 showed why the Braves can never be too comfortable at catcher.
They used a franchise-high eight catchers this past season, and with Tromp headed back to free agency, bringing him back for depth would be an easy call.
In Other News...
Braves Have A Shortstop Decision That Could Bring Back A Familiar Fit
Mauricio Dubn became a useful late-season answer for the Braves after arriving from Houston in the Nick Allen trade, giving Atlanta the kind of defensive versatility teams always seem to value when the stretch run gets tight. The two-time Gold Glove winner fit a need almost immediately, shuffling around the infield before settling in as the starting shortstop down the stretch and bringing a steady glove to a position the Braves have been sorting through.
Now the question is whether that short-term solution turns into something longer. Dubns defense and clubhouse value have given Atlanta reason to think about keeping him around, and there is at least some sense that a reunion could make sense if the price is right. For a Braves team that likes flexibility and reliability, the offseason decision at shortstop could end up being about more than just filling one spot on the lineup card. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Could Turn One Bad Contract Into A Risky Upgrade
The Braves are still weighing ways to reshape their roster, and one speculative idea floating around would turn Jurickson Profars contract into a chance to land a more proven bat. The framework is simple enough on paper: Atlanta would be trying to convert a shaky financial commitment into a player with a stronger recent track record, while also looking for a better fit in the middle of the lineup.
Teoscar Hernndez is the name attached to that conversation, but any move of that size would come with obvious risk and a cost beyond salary. Even if the Braves found a willing partner, the deal would not be a clean one, since it would likely take more than just swapping contracts to get it done and there is still no indication either club is actually close. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Face A Costly Mauricio Dubon Decision They May Not Like
Mauricio Dubon has put the Braves in a familiar offseason spot, weighing fit against cost at a position where stability matters. His versatility has value across the roster, but Atlantas interest appears tied to a more specific need as the club looks ahead and tries to sort out its infield plans.
The complication is that the market rarely prices a player like Dubon as a simple utility piece, especially when teams see a dependable defender who can move around the diamond. For the Braves, the question is whether they can keep him in the fold without bidding against a free-agent market that may treat him as something more than an extra glove. [Read more 🡒]