The Braves’ shortstop search gets a lot messier if Mauricio Dubon walks, and that’s the reality Atlanta is staring at this offseason. Ha-Seong Kim is also on the market, Jim Jarvis is not exactly an appealing everyday answer for 2027, and the overall free-agent class at the position is thin enough to make the whole exercise feel more like damage control than a clean fix.
That leaves the Braves sorting through a pool of options that ranges from bad fits to expensive gambles to a few names that could make sense if the price and timing line up just right.
At the bottom of the board are the choices Atlanta should avoid. Ha-Seong Kim, Paul DeJong, Orlando Arcia, Kevin Newman, Jorge Mateo, CJ Abrams and Anthony Volpe all land in the “pass” category for different reasons.
Kim and Arcia would be reunion ideas that don’t inspire much confidence, while Mateo would be fine in a reserve role but not as an everyday shortstop. Newman’s recent major league track record has been rough, and DeJong’s torn hamstring surgery makes him a risky bet for such a key spot.
Abrams can hit, but the Nationals would have every reason to push Atlanta hard in a trade, and his defense is a major problem. Volpe brings pedigree and upside, but he has struggled on both sides of the ball, and the Yankees would have plenty of leverage in any talks.
There’s a more workable middle tier, though it comes with its own complications. JP Crawford stands out as a veteran option who still gets on base well and could fit on a short-term deal if the price stays manageable.
Corey Seager, Otto Lopez, Jordan Lawlar and maybe Elly De La Cruz all have appeal in theory, but each comes with obstacles. Seager’s salary is massive, he was on the Braves’ limited no-trade list, and injuries have followed him around.
Lopez would be a strong fit, but he’s young, cheap and in the division with Miami, which would make any deal costly. De La Cruz is the kind of talent that changes a lineup, but he’s a Boras client and would require a huge return.
Lawlar is a strange case after Arizona shifted him to center field and he held his own in 2026, but his availability and price remain unclear.
Even with all that, Dubon still sits near the top of the Braves’ own solution list if he does not leave. He gives them solid defense, puts the ball in play, and brings a skill set that is not exactly overflowing in Atlanta’s lineup. He also has the versatility to slide into a broader utility role if the Braves land someone else.
If Atlanta decides to swing bigger, Jeremy Peña is the name that jumps out. The Astros shortstop is a strong player, Houston could be open to major changes, and because he would be a rental, the acquisition cost should be more manageable than it would be for a long-term piece. He still would not come cheap, and keeping him beyond 2027 would be unlikely with Boras as his agent, but the Braves could at least recover some value through the qualifying offer if that still exists in the new CBA.
In Other News...
Braves May Be Headed For An Offseason Fans Never Expected
The Braves are staring at an offseason that could look a lot different than the one fans had in mind, with the clubs recent slide forcing a harder look at the roster than anyone expected a few months ago. The conversation is no longer just about minor tweaks or depth moves. It has drifted into the kind of broader roster reshaping that usually only comes up when a team feels a real need to reset parts of its core.
Among the names being discussed are Ronald Acua Jr. and a group of prospects that includes JR Ritchie, Cam Caminiti, Eric Hartman and Tate Southisene. Atlanta is not seriously planning to move Acua, but the possibility of at least listening if an overwhelming offer surfaced is part of the backdrop now, which tells you how wide the range of this winter could be. The prospect side of the discussion is just as revealing, because the Braves would be weighing present help against future value in a way that could define the next phase of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Earnings Report Reveals One Key Test For New Broadcast Plan
Atlanta Braves Holdings latest earnings report offered a first look at how the clubs new broadcast setup is settling in after a quarter that ended Sept. 30. Baseball-related revenues rose 4% to $295.5 million from a year ago, helped by a home schedule that included 42 games and drew an average of 26,998 fans per date, a reminder that the on-field product and the ballpark experience still drive the business in a big way.
The more interesting test, though, is still ahead. Media revenues dipped 4% in the quarter as the teams new BravesVision subsidiary handled broadcasts and streaming duties, and the company is now trying to prove that the switch can perform on the same level as the old arrangement over the full year. For a franchise that has spent years building around both its baseball brand and its media reach, the next stretch will say plenty about whether this new model can hold up financially. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Still Face One Big Ozzie Albies Question
The Braves have already taken care of one part of Ozzie Albies future by exercising his team option for 2027, giving the second baseman a measure of security in a season where the roster around him could still be in flux. For Atlanta, that matters because Albies has been a central piece of the clubs core for years, and any discussion about his place in the lineup carries extra weight when the front office is thinking about how to keep the window open.
Even with the option picked up, Albies situation is not exactly settled in the long view. His offensive struggles have prompted speculation that the Braves could look at moving him as part of a broader effort to reshape the core, and his future could still end up being decided by a trade or by free agency next offseason. For now, the contract is in place, but the bigger question around his role in Atlanta remains very much alive. [Read more 🡒]