Jim Bowden’s latest free-agent projections put two familiar Braves names in the spotlight: Mauricio Dubon and Raisel Iglesias.
For Dubon, Bowden came in with a two-year, $16 million estimate. On paper, that tracks with the kind of production Dubon has delivered over his career.
But his value goes well beyond the stat sheet. He brings Gold Glove defense all over the diamond, plus championship experience, and that kind of versatility always plays in free agency.
The timing could work in his favor, too. Dubon doesn’t have any real competition at shortstop, which means teams looking for help there are going to get in line early.
That should create a bidding war of sorts. It may not spiral out of control, but Dubon has averaged more than 2.0 WAR over the last four seasons, and he’s the sort of clubhouse presence teams pay for because he’ll do whatever it takes to win.
A deal north of Bowden’s projection feels likely - probably at least $20 million, and maybe closer to $30 million.
Iglesias landed at $17 million for one year, a figure that looks a lot like the contract he signed a year ago to remain with Atlanta, with his salary bumped by $1 million. After his first All-Star season in 2026, there should be outside interest at that price.
The question is whether the Braves jump in. There does seem to be mutual interest in a return, but with Robert Suarez already in the fold and Iglesias set to turn 37 next season, a $17 million commitment for even one year is a real ask.
The projection itself makes sense. It just might be a little surprising if Atlanta is the team that gets it done.
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Milwaukee got the kind of lift that usually becomes a postseason legend, only for the Tampa Bay Rays to answer in the bottom half and flip the night back the other way. It is the sort of sequence Atlanta followers know too well from a recent October heartbreak, when a huge swing seemed to set one path in motion before the other dug in and changed the outcome. For Braves fans, the parallel is hard to miss, and it leaves plenty of room to wonder whether this latest version ends the same way or breaks the pattern instead. [Read more 🡒]
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Drakes at-bat stood out because it hinted at the kind of growth the Braves have been waiting to see, while the staff behind him kept the game under control. Logan Samuels and Owen Hackman took care of the late innings to help Glendale stay in front, and the shutout held together in a contest that never really loosened up. The bigger question for Atlanta is whether these small offensive signs are the start of something more consistent, or just the kind of incremental progress that takes a while to turn into real production. [Read more 🡒]