The Braves’ shortstop problem has been hanging around for about half a decade, and it’s still one of the clearest holes on the roster. Mauricio Dubon gave them a workable answer in 2025, but he’s now a free agent and profiles better as a super-utility option than as an everyday shortstop. With the free-agent market offering almost nothing at the position, Atlanta would have to look to the trade market if it wants a real upgrade.
One of the biggest names in that conversation is Gunnar Henderson, and this hypothetical deal would be a monster.
Two years ago, Henderson looked like the kind of player who could define a franchise. He finished fourth in AL MVP voting at age 23 after putting up 8.8 WAR, and the expectation was that he’d be one of baseball’s faces for the next decade.
But his numbers have come down sharply since then. This season, Henderson posted 3.2 WAR, hit .225 and finished with a .712 OPS, all career lows.
Even with that dip, the Orioles have continued to underachieve, and they’re now reportedly open to offers on just about everyone, Henderson included.
Still, this is not a buy-low situation. Not even close.
Henderson has still produced at least 5.0 WAR in three of the last four seasons, he’s only 25, and he comes with two more years of team control. That means Baltimore would only move him for a massive return, and in this scenario the Braves would have to pay a king’s ransom.
The package starts with two top 50-ish prospects in Eric Hartman and Tate Southisene. A.J.
Smith-Shawver is also in the deal, bringing more upside and a big arm that would give him a longer runway to develop as a starter in Baltimore. On top of that, the Braves would include two more of their top 10 prospects, Alex Lodise and Briggs McKenzie, both of whom could end up as top 100 prospects in the not-too-distant future.
Maybe that’s too much. Maybe it isn’t.
Either way, that’s the kind of absurd offer it would take to pry away an elite shortstop with multiple years of control. It would also strip the farm system down to the studs, which helps explain why Alex Anthopoulos has been reluctant to make these kinds of deals even while staying active in plenty of trade talks.
In Other News...
Braves Shortstop Search Just Got A Lot More Complicated
The Braves search for a shortstop has already been one of the most closely watched parts of their offseason, and the latest wrinkle only adds to the intrigue. Texas is reportedly open to exploring a Corey Seager trade, which instantly puts one of the biggest names on the market into the conversation for Atlanta, a team that has been weighing how aggressive it wants to be while trying to solve the position for the long term.
Seagers profile is easy to understand, but the path to landing him is anything but simple. His contract is hefty, his injury history gives any suitor pause, and his no-trade clause gives him control over where this goes next. For the Braves, the bigger question is not whether Seager would fit, but how far they would be willing to go to make a deal work, especially with the kind of premium talent other clubs would surely demand in return. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Sale Just Added Another Milestone To His Braves Case
Chris Sales first season in Atlanta gave the Braves exactly what they hoped for when they brought him in: a front-line starter who looked every bit like a Cy Young candidate. He finished with a 2.16 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP and a .215 batting average allowed, putting together one of the strongest pitching seasons in the league and adding another impressive chapter to an already decorated career.
The bigger significance for Atlanta is what came with it. Sale also crossed the 200-strikeout mark for the ninth time in his career, a milestone that underscores just how rare his sustained dominance has been even as his Braves tenure is still in its early stages. For a club that values top-end pitching in October, that kind of season only strengthens the case that Sale can be more than a short-term boost. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Suddenly Face A Messy Jurickson Profar Decision
Jurickson Profars situation has left the Braves with an uncomfortable roster question before they can even get to the rest of the offseason. The designated hitter is under contract for one more year, but his status is now clouded by a suspension and the reality that he already missed last season because of one, leaving Atlanta to sort through both the baseball and business sides of the decision.
The organization has not yet settled on whether he will be part of the plan going forward, and the uncertainty only adds another layer to a winter that already demands some lineup reshuffling. For now, the Braves are left waiting on clarity while the possibility of moving on from Profar appears to be growing, which would push the club toward addressing a new need in the outfield mix. [Read more 🡒]