The Braves did plenty of work last offseason, and a lot of it has held up well. But not every move aged the same way, especially with the 2026 trade deadline approaching and Atlanta trying to sort through the roster it built.
Some additions have become essential. Others have already turned into headaches.
And a few have landed somewhere in the middle - useful, but not exactly game-changing. Here’s how the Braves’ offseason moves stack up now.
Robert Suarez sits at the top of the list for a reason. He has been the most dominant of Atlanta’s additions, posting a 0.56 ERA over 32 innings with six walks and 26 strikeouts.
His fastball has been the headline weapon, and he’s looked overwhelming on the mound. The only real concern is his current stint on the IL with right forearm tightness.
Even so, the move still looks like one of AA’s best decisions, especially with Suarez under control through 2028 and positioned as the clear heir at closer once Raisel Iglesias is done in the role.
Iglesias himself remains one of the best closers in baseball. He’s carrying a 2.57 ERA with seven walks and 40 strikeouts, and the walk total is especially eye-catching. He still gives up the occasional homer, but he continues to make a strong case to return for another season after this one.
Mauricio Dubon has been one of the best utility pickups in the league. Atlanta’s trade of Nick Allen to the Astros brought back a player who immediately made an impact with his defense and a surprising power surge.
Dubon has already tied his career high with 10 homers, and he’s added a .264 average, 21 doubles, 53 RBI, and a .730 OPS. His bat has cooled some, but he’s still been one of Atlanta’s most reliable clutch hitters.
Martin Perez ended up taking on more than expected because of injuries, and he’s handled it well. His production has slipped a bit lately, but the overall line is solid: a 3.38 ERA, 36 walks, and 65 strikeouts over 85.1 innings. That’s a strong return for a pitcher who wasn’t supposed to be a major rotation piece.
Mike Yastrzemski gave Atlanta a useful left-handed bat and looked like a smart pickup early. He hit some bumps, then had his momentum interrupted by an elbow injury before the All-Star break. He’s back now, and while the results have varied, he’s been a good teammate and still brings the kind of at-bats that can be fun to watch when he’s rolling.
Tyler Kinley was another Rockies reclamation project, and he flashed quickly after arriving in Atlanta. This season has been tougher, though, with his slider not nearly as effective as it was before.
That has shown up in a 4.11 ERA over 35 innings. Still, when he’s right, it’s easy to see why the Braves brought him back.
Jorge Mateo earned an unexpected starting role after injuries hit Ha-Seong Kim and Ronald Acuna Jr. Dubon moved to the outfield, Mateo moved to the infield, and he gave Atlanta strong defense along with a productive stretch at the plate. He’s not hitting as well now, but he still profiles as a useful bench piece.
Dominic Smith came out of the gate hot and looked like a real find. That has cooled off hard, with a .192 average over his last 30 games.
He hasn’t homered in that stretch, though he has still drawn nine walks against 12 strikeouts. The on-base skills remain, but the clutch impact hasn’t been there lately.
Danny Young was signed before the season but started on the IL while recovering from elbow surgery. Since returning, he’s been a steady left-handed bullpen option with a 3.18 ERA over 5.2 innings. He’s helpful, just not the kind of arm that changes everything.
Jonah Heim was a solid stopgap after Sean Murphy hit the IL again, but the timing never really worked out. Once Murphy briefly returned, Heim was moved out, and by the time Murphy landed back on the IL, Heim was already gone.
He wasn’t flashy, but Atlanta could have used him longer. Since the trade, he’s hit eight homers with the A’s.
Joel Payamps had a rough 2026. After showing some promise late last season, the right-hander posted an 8.22 ERA over 7.2 innings and was outrighted to Triple-A in early May. He’s been better on the surface since then with a 3.74 ERA, but the recent stretch has been ugly again, including a 10.80 ERA over his last seven games and five innings.
At the bottom is Ha-Seong Kim, who was supposed to be a major piece for Atlanta. He looked great at the end of 2025, then a finger injury knocked him out at the start of 2026.
Since returning, things have gone badly. Atlanta’s $20 million man has been one of the worst hitters in baseball, batting .068 over 73 at-bats.
He has looked good on his rehab assignment, but he may have already lost his spot to Jim Jarvis.
In Other News...
Braves Face A Frustrating Roster Choice They Cant Avoid Much Longer
Ronald Acua Jr. is expected back from the injured list soon, and that means the Braves are staring at one of those roster decisions every contender would rather avoid. A healthy Acua changes the shape of the lineup immediately, but it also forces Atlanta to clear a spot, with Brewer Hicklen, Eli White and Dom Smith among the names in the mix as the club sorts through fit, flexibility and the value each player brings in a crowded room.
Smith has given the Braves some offense earlier this season, but his recent stretch has made the conversation more complicated, especially because he does not offer the same defensive versatility as some of the other options. Hicklen can be sent to the minors if Atlanta wants the simplest path, and Smiths presence in the clubhouse could still matter to a team trying to keep its edge while waiting for Acua to return, which is why this decision may take a little longer than the Braves would like. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Be Eyeing A Familiar Fix For Their Rotation Trouble
As the trade deadline approaches, the Braves are still looking for help in the rotation, and one familiar name has surfaced as a possible fit. The appeal is easy to see: a veteran starter in the final year of his contract, postseason-tested and already known to the organization, which matters when a contender is trying to add without emptying the farm system.
The wrinkle is whether Toronto actually decides to sell, because that choice will determine how far this possibility goes. If the Blue Jays do make him available, Atlanta would have a realistic path to a reunion with a pitcher who checks a lot of boxes for a club trying to steady its staff for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Shortstop Void Suddenly Has Two Prospects Forcing The Issue
The Braves search for a long-term answer at shortstop has started to look a lot more interesting in the lower minors. Tate Southisene, the clubs first-round pick in 2025, has moved through Low-A and High-A with the kind of all-around production that gets attention fast, pairing power and speed in a way that stands out even before the scouting reports catch up. Hes also been productive against a wide range of pitch types, which helps explain why some prospect outlets already view him as one of the best young players in the organization.
Alex Lodise has made the picture even busier. The second-round pick has taken a big step forward at the plate, reaching 20 home runs with an .822 OPS and putting himself in line for a promotion to High-A Rome soon. For a Braves system that has been looking for more certainty up the middle, the timing matters almost as much as the numbers, because two infielders are now making a case at the same time and forcing the club to sort out just how quickly each one should move. [Read more 🡒]