When Raisel Iglesias found his groove in the second half of the 2025 season, it felt like the writing was on the wall-he was coming back to Atlanta. The Braves had stuck with him through some rocky stretches, and that kind of loyalty usually means something, especially in a bullpen that’s been searching for stability.
Iglesias, for his part, looked comfortable in a Braves uniform and delivered when it mattered most. So when the offseason arrived, a reunion wasn’t just likely-it made all the sense in the world.
What’s surprising, though, is the deal itself. Most around the league expected Iglesias to command at least a two-year contract based on his résumé.
He’s a proven closer with a track record of handling high-leverage innings, and while he’s not getting any younger, relievers with his experience and postseason poise don’t usually settle for one-year deals. But that’s exactly what happened: Iglesias is back in Atlanta on a one-year, $16 million contract.
Now, $16 million is a hefty number for a reliever north of 30, but here’s the thing-short-term deals rarely hurt you, especially when the alternative is having to patch a late-inning hole with unproven arms or overpaying in years instead of dollars. The Braves, who are already juggling a roster with some high-end salaries, managed to lock down a key piece of their bullpen without tying up future payroll. That’s a big win in a market where reliever contracts can spiral quickly.
And timing matters here. Just look at what happened after Iglesias signed-Ryan Helsley landed a two-year deal with the Orioles, and the numbers make Atlanta’s move look even sharper.
Helsley’s deal came in with a slightly lower annual value, but he’s coming off a down year and dealt with pitch-tipping issues that clearly impacted his performance. When you stack the two contracts side by side, the Braves look like they got more reliability and less risk, all without going beyond one season.
That’s the kind of roster management that’s become a hallmark of Alex Anthopoulos’ front office. They move quickly, they move quietly, and more often than not, they move wisely. Locking in Iglesias early may have set the tone for how they’ll approach the rest of the winter-addressing needs decisively without getting caught in bidding wars or overcommitting to volatile positions like the bullpen.
Of course, the true value of this deal won’t be measured until Iglesias takes the mound in 2026. If he pitches anything like he did down the stretch last season, the Braves will have one of the better back-end bargains in baseball. And with big-name closers like Edwin Díaz and Robert Suarez still unsigned, there’s a chance Iglesias’ deal ends up looking even more team-friendly by comparison.
For now, the Braves have filled a key role with a familiar face who knows the clubhouse, the coaching staff, and the expectations. And they did it without mortgaging future flexibility.
That’s a win in any front office playbook. Now it’s up to Iglesias to reward that faith with another season of lockdown relief.