The Braves have work to do this offseason, and the clock may be ticking faster than usual. With a lockout looming, teams could be pushed to act quickly, and that makes the qualifying-offer market worth watching closely.
Eight players were handed the one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer on Monday afternoon, and they have until November 17th to decide whether to take it. For Atlanta, the draft-pick penalty that comes with signing one of those players is part of the equation, but it does not automatically rule everyone out.
Jake Bauers is one of the names worth keeping in the conversation. He is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .266/.389/.484 with 22 doubles and 26 home runs across 144 games.
He was an obvious qualifying-offer candidate, and he has said he would love to stay in Milwaukee. If he did land in Atlanta, the fit would require him to be comfortable in a designated hitter role.
Seiya Suzuki is another player Braves fans have had their eyes on for a while. Over five seasons with the Cubs, he put together a strong offensive line with a 128 wRC+, 113 home runs, 142 doubles, and 382 RBI. His defense has not always been a strength, but he made a major step forward in 2026, which only adds to his appeal as a possible answer in left field for Atlanta.
David Bednar would bring a different kind of impact. After a rough 2024 season, he bounced back and reestablished himself as one of the game’s top closers over the last two years.
In 2026, he posted a 2.47 ERA with 35 saves, 20 walks, and 76 strikeouts in 69.1 innings. That kind of production is going to draw plenty of attention this winter.
Brandon Lowe also belongs on the Braves’ radar, even if the fit is a little less obvious. He was excellent for the Pirates in 2026, finishing with 29 doubles, 35 homers, 96 RBI, and a 121 wRC+ over 150 games.
His glove was just as strong, as shown by his 15 OAA. Atlanta already has Ozzie Albies coming back, so second base is not a clear need, but Lowe could still create lineup flexibility by moving either himself or Albies into a DH spot.
Rogers is the final name in the mix, and while he slipped some in 2026 after a brilliant 1.81 ERA in 2025, he still delivered a solid season overall. The left-hander finished with a 4.03 ERA, 39 walks, and 157 strikeouts over 169.2 innings. His walk rate was elite, and he generated plenty of chase, which would be a welcome addition to Atlanta’s rotation.
In Other News...
Braves Are Betting On The Same Coaches To Fix A Lingering Problem
The Braves are keeping their coaching group intact for 2027, a sign they believe continuity still matters after the changes that came with Walt Weiss taking over as manager. Tim Hyers, whose contract expired after the 2026 season, is back on the staff, and the same goes for Jeremy Hefner, Tony Mansolino, Antoan Richardson, Tommy Watkins and the rest of the group.
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 🡒]
Braves Double Down On A Formula Fans Still Arent Sold On
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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 Are Suddenly Tied To A Blockbuster Shortstop Swing
The offseason market around Baltimore is already getting loud, and the Braves have found themselves mentioned in one of the more eye-catching possibilities. The Orioles are said to be open to moving just about anyone while they look to upgrade their rotation and outfield, and Atlantas need at shortstop has naturally put them in the conversation as clubs start gauging what might be available.
For the Braves, the appeal is obvious, but so is the cost. Any serious pursuit would almost certainly mean paying a steep prospect price, the kind that would force Atlanta to weigh present-day certainty against the long-term value of its farm system. For now, it remains only a speculative link, but it is the sort of rumor that can quickly reshape how a winter is viewed if the market keeps moving in this direction. [Read more 🡒]