Do the Braves have another major bullpen move left in them? If you know this team, the answer is probably yes.
Atlanta has already built a group that looks solid on paper. The projected late-inning core includes Evan Phillips, Robert Suarez and Dylan Lee, which gives the Braves a strong three-man backbone.
Behind them, Dylan Dodd sits in the “pretty good” bucket, while Victor Mederos lands in the “I guess you can roster him” category. That means five of the eight bullpen spots are already accounted for by arms that project above replacement level.
So there is room here. Plenty of it, really. The question isn’t whether the Braves can add - it’s whether they’ll add in a way that actually changes the ceiling of the group.
That’s where the bigger-picture bullpen plan comes in. Since the 2019 bullpen mess, Atlanta has consistently tried to chase one of the league’s best relief corps.
After the addition of Phillips, the Braves are already sitting ninth in preseason bullpen projection rankings. That’s respectable, but it’s not the kind of spot this organization has usually settled for.
A significant signing could push them into the top five. Smaller moves, by themselves, probably won’t get them there.
Raisel Iglesias is the veteran name still in the mix. He’s been with the Braves for four and a half seasons, and while his production has slipped some from his early-30s peak, he’s still been effective.
On his current projection, he likely doesn’t single-handedly vault Atlanta into that top-five tier. But pair him with a couple of smaller additions to cover the final two bullpen spots, and the math starts to look different.
The Braves have already shown they’re willing to spend on this area. They did it with Iglesias last year, and they also brought in Robert Suarez while Aaron Bummer and Joe Jimenez were still on the books.
Those two are no longer commitments, which only makes the possibility of another splash feel more real. So, yeah - what do you think?
In Other News...
Braves Add A Familiar Name With One Big Question Attached
The Braves have added a familiar name to the conversation at Gwinnett, bringing in Freeman as a possible depth piece who can move around the diamond and give the organization some flexibility. Over five major league seasons, he has shown enough athletic traits to keep getting looks, including speed, arm strength and a bat that can put the ball in play, even if the overall production has not yet matched the tools.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious enough at the margins: a backup option who can cover multiple spots and help fill out a roster when injuries or matchups start to pile up. The question is whether Freeman can turn those scattered flashes into something more dependable, especially with the defensive challenges that have followed him and the lack of strong performance metrics to point to so far. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Plan May Not Be Over After Evan Phillips Deal
The Braves have already made one notable bullpen move by signing Evan Phillips to a three-year contract, but the work in the late innings may not be finished. According to reporter Francys Romero, Atlanta is also showing interest in bringing back closer Raisel Iglesias, a familiar arm who remains one of the more established ninth-inning options on the market.
Iglesias drew interest from multiple teams, including the Braves and Detroit Tigers, after a strong 2026 season in which he posted a 2.55 ERA and saved 34 games. For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: adding Phillips and potentially keeping Iglesias would give the club a deep, proven bullpen core with Robert Suarez in the mix, and it suggests the front office is still weighing how aggressive it wants to be in fortifying the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Shortstop Buzz Comes With More Risk Than Fans Realize
The Braves have already made one notable bullpen addition this offseason in right-hander Evan Phillips, but the bigger roster question still hanging over them is shortstop. That uncertainty has kept Atlanta tied to trade chatter, and the name that keeps surfacing is Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, a player who would instantly change the conversation if he were to become available.
Hendersons appeal is obvious because he could give the Braves a temporary answer at a premium position, but the fit comes with real risk. His recent offensive dip has raised questions about how much of the decline is tied to injuries, and his arbitration eligibility only adds another layer of cost and control concerns for Atlanta if the front office decides to pursue a deal. [Read more 🡒]