The Braves’ first move of the offseason is already familiar to Mets fans, and not in a way that inspires much excitement. Atlanta has signed Vidal Brujan to a new minor league deal, bringing back a player who spent a brief, forgettable stretch with New York.
Brujan landed with the Mets in a cash-for-player trade in January of 2026 as a possible shortstop depth option if Francisco Lindor wasn’t ready for Opening Day. Lindor was ready, but later dealt with a calf injury that wiped out a big chunk of his season.
Even then, the Mets never really turned to Brujan for an extended look. Instead, they leaned on Bo Bichette at shortstop and Brett Baty at third base.
Brujan appeared in only 9 games for New York and logged just 13 plate appearances. He collected one hit and mostly filled in as a pinch runner and defensive option. That was about the extent of his impact.
Atlanta’s decision to bring him back doesn’t point to a major role. Brujan was with the Braves in 2025 and hit .262 in 47 plate appearances, which is at least a better showing than his career line of .197. He has also shown he can hit at Triple-A, where he posted a .278/.385/.421 line in 65 games for Syracuse.
The profile is pretty clear: versatile enough to move around the field, but more of a roster filler than a difference-maker. That’s been the kind of player the Braves have tended to use. In 2024, Luis Guillorme stuck around Atlanta for what felt like forever and still ended up with the same 9-game total Brujan had with the Mets in 2026.
Brujan chose free agency instead of staying in the Mets’ minor league system, even though New York had little obvious need for him with Lindor and Ronny Mauricio on the IL at the same time. When Brujan was designated for assignment in June, the Mets replaced him with Zack Short, another familiar name whose 2024 run in Queens was equally uneventful. He went 1 for 14.
So the Braves have their first offseason signing, and Mets fans already know the type of player they’re getting. Brujan may not do much, but there’s always the chance he pops up at the worst possible time with a smart baserunning play or a surprise defensive gem.
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