The Braves’ shortstop picture is still messy, but there’s at least one reason for Atlanta to feel better about where this could be headed.
Mauricio Dubon is now a free agent, and that alone makes the situation worth watching. Atlanta already has shortstop concerns on the board, and the idea of losing both Ha-Seong Kim and Dubon would leave a real hole.
Kim’s stint with the Braves was a disaster, so there’s no heartbreak there. Dubon is a different story.
His bat won’t scare anybody, but he’s a strong defender, and he showed he could handle shortstop every day when Kim was sidelined early in the season. If he walks, Atlanta would feel it.
That’s why the latest read from MLB Trade Rumors matters. In the outlet’s annual free agent rankings and predictions, all three of its votes for where Dubon would land went to the Braves. MLBTR wasn’t reporting sourced negotiations or fresh buzz, but the logic is easy to follow: the fit makes sense, the need is obvious, and there seems to be real mutual interest between Dubon and Atlanta.
The frustrating part for the Braves is that Dubon reached the open market at all. Ideally, they would have gotten something done during their exclusive negotiating window before free agency started. Once he hit free agency, though, the Braves were always going to face the reality that Dubon could use outside interest to push Atlanta’s number higher.
That still doesn’t make a reunion automatic. Dubon could find a richer offer elsewhere, and the Braves could decide they’d rather go another direction through trade or even with an internal prospect.
But for now, there’s no reason to sound the alarm. The Braves may still have a good shot to bring Dubon back.
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
Walt Weiss first season in charge has already put him in the National League Manager of the Year conversation, and the Braves run to another NL East title has given the organization plenty of reason to stay the course. According to a team source cited by Jesus Cano of The Athletic, Atlanta is keeping its full coaching staff in place for the 2027 season, a sign the front office sees continuity as a strength rather than something to tinker with.
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 🡒]