The Braves remain in the thick of the National League race, but the cushion they once had is shrinking fast. Atlanta’s lead in the NL East is down to two games over the Philadelphia Phillies, with the Miami Marlins sitting four games back, and the uneven production from several expensive pieces has played a big part in that slide toward the All-Star break.
One of the clearest examples is Ha-Seong Kim, the former Gold Glove shortstop Atlanta brought back on a one-year, $20 million deal. The move looked sensible at the time, even drawing praise in the moment. Now, though, it’s drawing much harsher judgment.
“It’s safe to chalk the [Ha-Seong] Kim trade and subsequent re-signing as a massive whiff for the Braves front office,” FanSided’s Christopher Kline wrote Sunday. “The process behind the move was understandable, even celebrated in the moment. But Kim has not held up his end of the bargain.”
Kim has appeared in only 27 games this season, and when he has been available, the numbers have been brutal. He has just five hits, no extra-base hits, and 82 trips to the plate that have produced a -30 OPS+.
That kind of output naturally puts his roster spot under the microscope, and the question is starting to surface: is it time for the Braves to DFA the 30-year-old?
Shortstop is already a position Atlanta is expected to keep examining before the deadline. Jim Jarvis, the 25-year-old rookie, has filled in and handled the job credibly in recent weeks, but the Braves still appear to need a steadier answer.
“No matter how the proverbial cookie crumbles, it’s clear that Kim was a misstep,” Kline added.
In Other News...
Braves Fans Had One Big Reason To Watch Cam Caminiti Closely
The 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game in Philadelphia gave Braves fans a fresh look at Cam Caminiti, the organizations top pitching prospect, in a setting built for baseballs next wave of talent. The American League rolled to a 6-1 win over the National League, but the showcase was really about the names scattered across the field, with Jess Made, Kade Anderson, Seth Hernandez, Liam Doyle, Leo De Vries, JoJo Parker and Nathan Flewelling all getting a turn in front of a national audience.
Caminiti did his part to keep Atlantas interest alive, working a scoreless inning and striking out one in his outing. The bigger buzz from the game came elsewhere, as Flewelling turned in the kind of moment that can define a showcase like this, leaving Braves followers to track not just how Caminiti looked, but what his brief appearance says about where he stands in the organizations pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Just Confirmed A Ronald Acuna Jr. Update Fans Needed
Ronald Acuna Jr. is set to take another step back toward Atlantas lineup, with a rehab assignment beginning Monday at the FCL Braves. It is the latest checkpoint in a season that has again been interrupted by injury for one of the Braves most important players, and it comes with the kind of caution that has followed Acuna since his breakout years were derailed by repeated setbacks.
Ha-Seong Kim will also be in the FCL Braves mix as he starts his own rehab work, giving the club a pair of notable names to monitor at the same level. For Atlanta, the bigger picture is familiar by now: Acuna still changes the lineup when he is available, but every return now carries the lingering question of how long he can stay on the field after so many stops and starts. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Need To Cut Bait On A Veteran Bat Fast
The Braves hold on the NL East has tightened enough that every roster spot is starting to matter a little more, and that is why the conversation around the lineup is beginning to shift. With Philadelphia and Miami closing the gap, Atlanta may not be able to carry underperforming pieces much longer, especially with the All-Star break offering a natural checkpoint for a club that still expects to contend.
Dominic Smith has become one of the more obvious names to watch because the bat that looked useful earlier in the season has not stayed at that level. Atlanta has already had to weigh how much value he brings as a designated hitter and outfielder, and the front office could soon have to decide whether the fit is worth keeping around if the offense does not rebound quickly after the break. [Read more 🡒]