The Ideal Offseason for the Atlanta Braves Heading Into 2026

The Ideal Offseason for the Atlanta Braves Heading Into 2026

The World Series is over and the offseason is officially here. In today’s episode, I’m going to put on my GM hat and I’m going to tell you five moves that I would make if I were the general manager of the Atlanta Braves this offseason. That on today’s episode of Locked on Braves. So, let’s get into it. You are Locked on Braves, your daily Atlanta Braves podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Hey, welcome back to Locked On Braves, part of Lockd On Sports Atlanta, where we cover your favorite Atlanta sports teams each and every day. I’m your host, Jake Mastriani. You can follow me on social media at shortstop.bball. Check out the podcast there at Lockdown Braves onx and Lockdown Braves on Instagram. If you’re new and you’re watching this on YouTube, please do me a huge favor. Hit that subscribe button, hit that thumbs up button, and leave me a comment down below. Thank you so much for your support there as we continue to grow up over 15,000 subscribers on YouTube. So, thank you so much for that. If you’re on the audio side, you can help out as well. Just leave a quick fivestar view on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks so much for all your support here at Locked on Braves and making us your first listen of each and every day. Big shout out to all the everydayers out there and those who come into YouTube just to leave a a comment to help out the algorithm. does help me a ton. I promise you. So, thank you so much for your support there. Today’s episode is the one you’ve all been waiting for. I’m going to tell you what I would do. I’m going to put on my GM hat, try to be somewhat realistic, and tell you five moves that I would make. Who am I targeting? Which players would I go after if I were the GM of the Atlanta Braves? And you can obviously kill me and roast me in the the comment section. Whatever you think if you don’t agree with these, get to some of your comments as well later in the episode. And this episode is brought to you by Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. So, today is the one that I know a lot of you have been asking about, the the players that I’m targeting, the players I would like to see the Braves go after. And so, I’m going to detail that, go through the top priorities, as we discussed many times. We talked about shortstop, ble pitcher, starting pitcher, and a big bat. Those are my top four priorities in that order this off seasonason for the Atlanta Braves. Last week, we looked at the players at each of those spots. We didn’t really get into the the big bat, but you know who those are, but we got into the list of shorts stops, relief pitchers, and starting pitchers that are going to be available this off seasonason and free agency. Didn’t really go too deep in trades. And I’m not going to in this exercise either because those are just, you know, really hard to know exactly who’s available and what the price is going to be. So, I’m mainly going to be talking about free agents today. If we’re just talking free agent specific, who would I go out and sign? And that’s what I’m going to detail for you today. Five moves that I would make if I were the general manager of the Atlanta Braves this off seasonason to plug in those holes that this team needs in order to compete in order that they can take down the Los Angeles Dodgers next season. I’m also going to try to make these moves within reason. We’re not going to go too crazy signing all the best free agents. That’s not something that Alexopoulos does anyway. So, we’re going to kind of be a little bit reasonable, but I am expecting them to sp big big big money this offseason. I’ve said that many times. You reset the tax last year. That’s fine. Whatever. I get it to some degree, but you better come back this off seasonason and you better open up that paycheck or that pocketbook, whatever the case may be, and spend a lot of money this off seasonason. So, again, I’m gonna try to do this within reason, but I think these are all reasonable expectations for the Atlanta Braves. The first thing to get done is shortstop position. as my top priority. And at that spot, I’m getting Hassan Kim. Whether he picks up the option or not, I’m getting Hassan Kim. Hopefully, he does pick up the player option. 16 million. That would be fantastic. I don’t think that he does. And even if he doesn’t, I’m signing him for three years, $55 million. I think that’s a reasonable expectation. That’s a little over $18 million annually. We talked about it during the season when we were discussing the possibility of Hassan Kim returning and you put him in that echelon of of short stops where I don’t think he’s quite on the the Danby Swanson level obviously not on the Cory Seager Francisco Lindor levels I think he’s a step just below those guys so he’s not at the $30 million range he’s not at that 20 to $25 million range but I think he is close to that you know 1520 million type of range so 18 million a year I think makes sense for Hassan Kim and I think three years is where I feel comfortable. Now, if I have to go to a fourth year, hopefully you can do a fourth year team option with a a buyout, a substantial buyout. If that’s what it takes to get it done, that’s fine. And again, that’s still a little bit pricey for me for a guy who even in his best offensive seasons is an average offensive bat. And also for a guy coming off an injuryfilled season where the defense took a huge step back. But you’re hoping, you know, healthy, go through a healthy offseason, come back next year, hopefully be uh healthier, that the defense will return and that the offense will too. It’s not like the offense was great. I know he’s better once he joined the Braves. But you’re hoping to get a guy that can steady that position. And as I talked back talked about at the end of the regular season where we discussed, you know, letting Freddy Freeman walk, letting Danny Swanson walk, letting Max Freed walk in free agency. I said the one that really bugs me the most is Danzy because you did nothing to replace him. And so now you are in a spot where you really got to go and probably overpay for a guy in Hassan Kim who like I said even in his best years he’s average offensively although in his best years he has been gold glove worthy defensively but that’s the really the situation that you put yourself in. And the backup options there are none at least realistic. I doubt they’re going to spend on Bobaet and even if they do, I don’t know that he’s a shortstop longterm. Now, you could sign Bobette just to get the bat and then you can figure out what to do with him once you get there. Maybe you live with him at shortstop for a year or two. Again, when I watched him play at shortstop, just my own eyes, I I think he’s looked fine there. Uh even in the World Series playing second base, I thought he made some good plays on the shortstop side of second base. So, uh and that’s with a bum knee. I’d be fine again if they were willing to spend the money, and I don’t think they would be. I would be fine if they signed Bobette to be the shortstop for now and then you kind of just figure that out down the road and just buy his bat essentially and live with him at shortstop and maybe you keep Nick Allen as a defense defensive replacement. Maybe you have some days where you DH Bobette. Maybe if Aussie, you know, you don’t bring him back after 2026 or maybe bring him back for this next season, he doesn’t hit and you you want to move on there, you can move Bob over to second base. There there’s ways that you can work around that if you wanted to spend the money on Boba. I just don’t think they will. And again, outside of that, I I just there’s not too many realistic options that I can see at shortstop if it’s not Hong Kong Kim. So, I’m going out. I’m doing whatever it takes within reason to get Hoson Kim. Now, if his price he goes free agency and his price just goes bananas and we’re talking four years at 20 25 million a year, no, no thanks. I mean, there is a certain point where I have to say that’s just that’s just ridiculous. But I think it’s within reason to say 3 years 55, you know, 60 million for Hassan Kim. That’s probably about the highest as I would go about 20 million a year. Like I said, or if you had to do the fifth or the fourth year as a team option with the $5 million buyout, something like that, I’d be okay with that as well. But Hassan Kim, that’s the first thing that I’m doing. Number two was the bullpen for me. And I think you need two arms. And I’m I’m bringing back Riceell Glaciius. And I’m going out and getting Gregory Sodto. And neither one of those, even myself, just looking at that, neither one of those give me the warm and fuzzies. None of those give me a great feeling. But I go out and sign Iggy to a one-year $12 million deal with a team option for 2027 and a $2 million buyout. So, you’re essentially giving him 14 guaranteed million to come back for one more year. You know, at his age, I think that’s appropriate. Maybe he gets a two-year deal, but I think that’s appropriate. and the season that he’s coming off of. Obviously, the great second half with the bad first half, I think that could be done with the relationship that you have with with Iggy. And I still think he’d be a good closer. I believe in what he did in the second half. I still think the stuff is that good. It’s not a dominance profile by any means, but I don’t I still think the stuff is that good. It took him too long to adjust in the first half to just ditch that slider with all the home runs he was giving up on it, but once he did, it was it was Riceel Glacius again. So, I’m comfortable bringing him back again, especially if you can get him at that price to be your closer. And it’s also at a price point where let’s say that he, you know, Father Time does catch up with him and and he’s more like first half Iggy. He’s given up too many home runs and the stuff just isn’t isn’t working. You can quickly, you know, move him out of that role. It’s just I don’t know who else you put in there. But, I think that would be a price point where you’d be comfortable moving him out of that closer role if he just doesn’t have it. And the other arm I’m picking up, I do think the Braves need another lefty. the only one. You got Bummer, you got you got Lee. Um Don’s not really a lefty. He’s better against righties, but I don’t know that they have that true just situational lefty. And I think Gregory stood he he is that like he is a situational lefty. You do not want him facing righties. This past season, lefties slashed 192, 280, 549 OPS off of him, but rac uh righties had an 801 ops off of him. So, it is somebody you strictly want facing lefties, but I think the Braves need that. And I think Gregory Sodto could give that. Might be pricey. Two years, 20 million is what I put down. That feels like a lot. Uh, but mentor got two for 22 from the Mets. So, I think that’s probably in the ballpark of what Sodto could get in free agency. He averages 97 on the fast ball, so that’s good stuff that could play up in the postseason. Just a 4% barrel rate last year, so he misses barrels. Nearly a 30% whiff rate on all of his pitches. at 45 and a half% whiff rate on his slider is ridiculous. Uh my backup plan here outside of Sodto would be Danny Koul. You get him as a lefty or I would love to trade for Garrett Clevenger. I feel like that’s a name I’ve been saying for years now. But if you could somehow get the raise to move him, I would absolutely love to get Garrett Clevenger for my lefty. But those are the first three moves that I’m making. bringing in Hassan Kim short up the shortstop spot till hopefully you’re able to groom somebody for your future shortstop because there’s just nobody right now in the farm system that I can confidently say they’re the future shortstop of the team but hopefully you can patch that with Hassan Kim for three years until hopefully you have that guy ready and then on the bullpin side of things I’m bringing back Iggy to be my closer and then I’m going to get Sodto to be a situational lefty. So, that’s what I that’s my first three moves that I’m making, but I got two more left. Starting pitcher and the big bat. We’ll get into those two moves here next. The NBA season is back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you missed the start of the game or want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has live bets on everything from who will score next to fourth quarter comebacks. Plus, you can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a bigger payout. You can check out FanDuel.com. Right now, they already have the 2026 World Series odds out there. No surprise, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the big favorite at plus 350, followed by the Yankees. Then you got the Phillies and Mets. You got to go all the way down to the eighth best odds to find the Atlanta Braves. So, remember last offseason the Braves were pretty much first, second, third in World Series odds all off season and then they had the year that they had. So maybe now it’s it’s a good thing that they’re down a little bit. But you make some of these moves that I’m talking about in this episode and I think those odds are going are going to greatly increase. Also, make sure you you visit fanuel.com/playsafe for tools and resources to help you stay in control of the way you play. Right now, FanDuel is giving new customers $300 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. So head to fanduel.com to sign up today and play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Thank you as always making Lockdown Braves your very first listen of each and every day. Go check out Lockdown MLB for your second listen of the day. Let the guys from MLB game night, including Lindsay, know how appreciative you are of the great work they did all season long. Uh but now we’ll turn things over to Sullie for the offseason. He’ll get you caught up with everything happening around Major League Baseball, all the biggest moves happening as we uh get ready for a big off season. But here on today’s podcast and on this podcast, the rest of the week, we’ll continue our offseason predictions preview. I’m expecting a lot of news this week. I’m expecting a managerial hire this week. We’ll have options to talk about later in the week. So, uh it’s going to be a busy week here at Lockdown Brave. So, make sure that you are subscribed wherever you get your podcast. Getting back into my general manager duties, the moves that I would make. Hassan Kim, bring back Iggy Sign Sto lefty specialist. And next for starting pitcher, Zack Gallon. Three years, 66 million, 22 million a year. That number that Alexopoulos seems to like. I think that’s the right number. It’s just I’m not great at predicting numbers necessarily. I did go back and look at some other starting pitchers that signed recently kind of, you know, proven better in starters, but somebody that is coming off a down year like Zack Gallon, and I’m hoping that means the price is down a little bit. He’ll play most of next year at 30, so still relatively young. and he’s been reliable since entering the big leagues. He had 15 starts as a rookie in 2019, had 12 starts in that COVID year, and he’s averaged 170 innings in every year since then with the fewest amount being 121. So, he’s been very, very reliable and dependable as a starter in the big leagues. Now, the production has been somewhat mediocre. Um, just looking at the numbers for Zack Gallon, they wouldn’t scream to you with a guy that I think most people would consider to be a top of the rotation arm. He had the one really good year in 2022. Outside of that, especially you look at his expected numbers, it’s a, you know, 3.75 four RA type of pitcher. So, it’s not like you’re getting a top-of-the-line guy. But, as I’ve said, I don’t think the Braves need that. I think they need somebody that’s going to give them innings, give them quality innings. And I think Zack Gallon can do that. Even this past year coming off a season where he had a 4.83 rate. It was a bad year for Zack Gallon as he really got crushed by the long ball, but he still gave you 15 quality starts. He he still threw 192 innings. And that’s very, very valuable for a team that just really needs innings and needs quality innings to get you through the season. And I think he has the potential to do more than that. I definitely expect him to have a a good bounceback year. He has not had Tommy John surgery yet. And that does scare me a little bit because as I’ve said with pitchers, it’s just it’s just if or not if, it’s when. Uh it’s going to happen. He did have a sprain in his UCL back in 2021, but again has pitched many innings since that. But that’s just the risk with all pitchers. All pitchers come with major injury risk. You got there’s the opportunity he signs Zach Gallon to a three-year 66 million deal. he blows out his UCL in spring training or even in the middle of the season and and you lose them for a year and a half. That’s just the risk you run when you sign starting pitchers and but at some point you still have to go sign something. You still have to make something happen. And I think because of that, I wouldn’t be surprised if the trade route is the way that AA goes for starting pitcher. If he is going to get a quality starting pitcher this off seasonason, which again doesn’t have to be top of the rotation for me, but I do think you need another quality starting pitcher to just build out your depth. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes more of the trade route just because of I feel like he would rather give up prospects than commit money long-term to a starting pitcher in three years. Not necessarily long term, but like I said, you blow out the UCL in spring training, he’s gone for all of next year and then, you know, obviously working his way back in 2027. So, you’re getting a year and a half of a guy that you signed for three years. That’s just the risk that that you take when you sign pitch and you don’t know how they’re going to look like coming back from that injury. If they do go the trade route, I’d look to the Twins, whether it be Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Pablo Lopez. I think the Twins are a team that’s heading down. Um, and I would not be surprised if they trade a pitcher or two this off seasonason. So, if that’s the way the Braves want to go, I think the Twins could be a a team to look at. I know there’s been a lot of people out there about Sunny Gray from the Cardinals. They’d have to eat a lot of that money for me to consider Sunny Gray. I think there are some trade targets out there that might be a little bit less risky, not committing so much money long term. But for me, I’m taking a shot and I’m taking a shot on Zack Gallon to be that guy, assuming that he is healthy and that the troubles he had this year, you know, weren’t necessarily injury related. I’m taking a shot on Zack Gallon. And now into my final move of the off seasonason. This is my favorite one and it’s the big bat. And I’ve never I’m not going to say never, but I don’t know too many times I’ve been this excited about a fit for the Atlanta Braves and a a guy that I would I’m really going to be cheering for them to go out and get and that’s Cody Bellinger. I predicted five years 125. That that potentially feels low for Cody Bellinger who might get 30 million a year. But again, I’ve never felt so good about the fit of a player in free agency than I do for Cody Bellinger. And here’s why. He’s become a well-rounded bat. It’s a, you know, 15 16% strikeout rate. He doesn’t strike out a ton. He walks. He has some speed. He can steal 10 to 20 bases for you. And he still has good power. It’s not 40 home run power like he had earlier in his career, but it’s still 20 to 30 home run power. Now, he got 29 at Yankee Stadium this past year because of that short porch, and you know, we still do that in Atlanta, but I think it’s it’s somebody that it’s that well-rounded bat that I think the Braves need, but also has power. You know, I was hoping the Blue Jays won that World Series, and we may still do it depending on things get slow this week. I was going to go back and analyze the type of offense that the Blue Jays have because I think it’s an offense that I think an offensive style that I would like to see the Braves kind of emulate. a a style where, you know, the focus is putting the ball in play, but not at the sake of losing power. That Blue Jays team, they put the ball in play, but they also hit a ton of home runs. Unfortunately, the Dodgers just hit a couple of more in that final game. But having that well-rounded offense up and down the lineup of guys who can put the ball in play, but also are going to hit 20 to 30 home runs. And I I take that sacrifice, I think I personally, maybe you don’t agree because home runs are still the way. Don’t don’t get me wrong, but I think I take that sacrifice in hitting 10 fewer home runs for hitting 10 20 points more higher in average and 10 and 20 points more higher in on base percentage. I think I take that sacrifice. Again, it doesn’t mean you’re not hitting a bunch of home runs, but instead of hitting 3540, I’m hitting 2530, but I’m getting on base 20 30% more of the time. I’m getting hits 20 to 30% more of the time. Right? Maybe that’s too high of a number, but I think you get the point that I’m saying. I’m just looking for guys that are more well-rounded without completely sacrificing power. And I think Cody Bellinger does that and he plays all three outfield positions. He can back up first base, maybe get Matt Olsson a day in the DH spot and he plays a good outfield. Like he’s a good great defender. And so I just think Cody Bellinger is a perfect fit for what the Braves need. I talked about the fact that you do have a hole at DH. You do need another bat. And I would love to get somebody that, you know, can can DH but also play in the field. I do not want a full-time DH again, unless you’re going to sign Kyle Schwarber, which I don’t think is going to happen. And I just think Cody Bellinger fits a lot of the needs that the Atlanta Braves have in the type of hitter, but also just where he can play defensively and how he can play defensively. You can get, you know, profile out of left field. You can give him starts at second second base and get Aussie, you know, at DH. you can do just do so many different things with a guy like Cody Bellinger. Now, because of that, and because he just had a big year at Yankee Stadium, it could potentially drive the price up to a point where the Braves just aren’t going to play. And that’s likely what happens. While I do feel great about Cody Bellinger as a fit for the Braves, I don’t feel great about their chances of actually signing him. Some backup options here would be, you know, obviously Kyle Tucker, but I don’t think that’s going to happen either. They’re not sh signing Schwarber. You could maybe trade for Jiren Durant, although I don’t love that. I’m not the biggest Jiren Durant guy. Maybe you can convince Byron Buck then to wave his no trade from Minnesota. I just don’t see a ton out there that fit as well as Cody Bellinger does for the Braves needs and the type of hitter that I think is somewhat realistic. Uh now, like I said, unless Cody Bellinger’s AAV just goes well beyond 30 million, the Braves are obviously aren’t going to play in that realm. And I think the Yankees very much want and need Cody Bellinger back, and that’s just going to drive the price up even more. Um, but again, this is my somewhat uh fantasy off seasonason and what I would do. And Cody Bellinger is a guy that I would push pretty hard for this off seasonason just because of the fit that he is for this team. So, that’s my off seasonason if this were to get done. Here’s what the lineup could look like. Akunia, Bellinger, Olsen, Riley, and Drake. That is a pretty deadly top five in your order right there. Akunia, Belly, Olsen, Riley, and Drake. assuming Riley, you know, obviously bounces back. And then even the bottom of your lineup, you’re talking about Proofar, Aussie, Michael Harris, Hassan Kim, I mean, I’ I’d be hardressed to find a lineup in baseball that is much deeper than that. And again, we’re hoping for better years from Aussie and and Michael Harris, but getting a Kim at the bottom as a guy that can get on base and has have some speed. I mean, the speed really potential at the bottom of that lineup with Proar Aussie, you know, Michael Harris, Kim, and then even turning it over to Akuna and Belly that the potential for speed. I mean, really only Olsson, Riley, and Drake. And Riley’s a fast guy, just not somebody that steals bases. Suddenly, you’re looking at a lineup that doesn’t have a lot of dead weight in it once it gets on base. And that excites me a ton. You look at the rotation, Cell, Sch Swellowbach, Gallon, Strider, and then the fifth spot, you know, Lopez, Holmes, Waldrip, Elder. I mean, that’s a pretty deep rotation. I don’t know too many teams that are, you know, matching that rotation outside of the Dodgers. And then you look at the bullpen, even Glacia coming back. Uh Dylan Lee, Pierce Johnson, Tyler Kinley, Gregory Sodto is your lefty specialist. Bummer in there. Uh and then you also have Dodd Harris, Dazell, Lara, Pianamps, Munoz, Suarez. You have some options there in that last spot just depending on what you need somebody to give you some length. Again, it’s it’s somewhat fantastical as I know I’m just sitting here armchair GMing, but I also don’t think these moves are too unrealistic, especially in the first segment. Kim, Iggy, and Sodto. I don’t think those are too unrealistic. You know, getting Gallon, getting Bellinger, it’s going to cost you a good bit of money, and those are going to be the harder ones. But again, I’m expecting big things this offseason. It’s a big offseason for Alex and you got to make this right managerial hire. You got to make the right uh personnel moves, and I I expect them to have a big offseason. I expect them to spend some money. All right. Next, I’ll get into some of your comments. Asked what you would do if you were the GM. What moves would you make? We’ll get into those here next. The NFL season is back and honestly, there’s nothing better than being in the stadium surrounded by fans cheering on your team. But let’s be honest, getting tickets can be a hassle. Between cues, login screens, and prices jumping at checkout, it’s frustrating. That’s why I use Game Time. It’s the app that gives you the advantage back. Game time is fast, easy, and backed by the Game Time guarantee. You’ll always get 100% authentic tickets delivered on time and at the best price. Plus, all fees are included. So, the price you see is the price you pay. Now, we got free tickets handed to us for the Auburn game this past weekend because who really wants to go watch them play? I turned it down because I wanted to watch the World Series, but was looking at the Game Time app. Just curious, see how much did these tickets cost? How much could I get for them on Game Time if I wanted to take some more people with us? I use Game Time whenever I go to a Braves game. I’ve already used them this offseason to go to a college football game. It is that simple. I love it. I I see it, you know, the view from my seat. I know the price is going to be the price that I see once I get to the checkout. I do love using the Game Time app and so will you. Download it today. Create an account. Use code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that’s promo code locked on MLB for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. Download Game Time today. I’ll ask some of you if you were going to be the GM of the Atlanta Braves, which moves would you make? I’ll read some of those for uh read some of those here for you right now. Joey Milby says, “Hassan, Kim, Pete Fairbanks in a trade.” Um I’m still going after Clever. If I’m talking to the Rays, can you give me Clevenger? Joey also said, “Dylan CE wouldn’t mind that. Also somebody that’s very durable and Catel Marte.” Look, if the Diamondbacks were willing to trade Catel Marte, yes, that’s a no-brainer. I’m doing it in a heartbeat. He’s the best second baseman in baseball. He can also play left field, although he’s really good defensively at second base. You figure it out with Aussie, you know, either you trade him or you put him in the DH spot, but you can get a bat like Catel Marte. The Diamondbacks are willing to part ways with him. Yeah, you jump all over that. Chris 1414 says, “Hassan Kim at shortstop. Keller, that’s going to be a big name for relievers this offseason.” Uh Sunny Gray at starting pitcher and and Bucks in for the bat. Like I said, if you can get Bucks in to wave, no trade certainly that would qualify as the big bat. He can play the outfield position, can play center to back up Michael Harris if he struggles. The gray one, they got to eat a lot of money for me to take on Sunny. Even though it’s just one year, I think it’s still like 35 million. That’s a lot of money for Sunny Gray. They’d have to eat at least 10 million of that. Uh Whit Price says, “Corey Seager, again, another big money addition, and I don’t think the Rangers are going to eat much of that money, but would be a huge bat. A Glacius and Williams on one-year deals. I thought about Williams. I don’t think you do both. But if not, if you didn’t want to bring Iggy back and you want to go outside, you know, do something a little bit different, I would not mind at all them taking a shot on Deon Williams. As I said last week, the numbers were still there for Deon Williams. I don’t know why he struggled as much as he did in in with the Yankees and Yankee Stadium, maybe just his first year somewhere else. But, you know, the numbers all still looked fantastic for him. I would not mind at all taking a shot on Devin Williams. Whit also says Zack Effin. That’s a curious one, but maybe somebody, you know, can be that mid back of the rotation guy. And then Cody Bellinger. I don’t think you’re doing Sear and Bellinger. That’s that seems like a definite dream scenario. Um, but yeah, either one of those would be great. Dustin Mount says trades Jeremy Pñena, Pete Fairbanks, Pablo Lopez, and Byron Buckton. Free agents, Hassan Kim, Devin Williams, Ranger Suarez, and Ryan O’Harn. Or or any mixture of trades and free agents. So Jeremy Pñena is available for trade. You know, if Hassan Kim doesn’t work out, that would be great. Uh, but for what I hear from Astros fans, they think it’s very doubtful paying he gets traded. Uh, talked about Deon Williams and Fairbanks already, talked about Pablo Lopez, Ranger Suarez, again would not mind that at all. I think he’s a very good pitcher. I just don’t know that the Phillies let him get away. Ryan O’Harn, if you can’t find, you know, you can’t get Bellinger, you can’t get Bucks in, you can’t get one of those just big big bats, I do think you just kind of sell out for a power guy like Ryan O’Harn. Uh XRP Brave says short stop Seager really pitcher Iggy starting pitcher Ranger big bat already accounted for in Seer and I agree if you were to you know let’s say it’s even possible and you were out able to go out and get a Seager that does also qualify as the big bat it takes away the need for another big bat Kim does not you still need a big bat if you get Kim but you get Seager and that qualifies for both of those Jason Watson says JJ Crawford rice glaciius Luis Castillo and Tyler O’Neal Tyler O’Neal could just stay healthy I wouldn’t mind him for that that DH spot in big power. Uh Cass Buckeye says, “Kim, Robert Suarez, cease or ranger and Tucker.” Um Robert Suarez is another one I thought about because it’s somebody it’s similar to Iggy. I think you just go with the known that you already have in Iggy, but Robert Suarez, somebody that’s, you know, racked up a lot of saves, probably has bigger stuff and the potential for to be more dominant than Iggy. Um although the numbers wouldn’t necessarily say that, but he just has, you know, typically bigger bigger fast ball essentially. Although Iggy can get it up there. 96 97 himself. I think both of those are kind of even though Iggy Robert Suarez. I put them pretty much in the same boat. And then Edward, even though you got me blocked on social media, you responded to my post. Sorry if I offended you. I don’t know why you blocked me, but Edward says, “Kim, Iggy, Scooble trade, and Schwarber.” That’s a that’s a definite dream scenario there. Trade for Skoo and Sign Schwarber. But I agree, Kim and Iggy, as I talked about, I think those are are very likely to happen. Thanks so much for sending those comments in. I do appreciate it and your support here. for the podcast and uh your contribution to the podcast as well. Uh get quickly touching on the World Series. Look, I take I take what I want out of it. Obviously, one of the Blue Jays to win. It’s one of the greatest World Series I’ve ever witnessed. And for me, it really goes back to like the 20ou the 2011 was the first one that came to mind for me as just a in incredible obviously 2011 you had the moment the David Fes home run. I just it’s one of those moments I’ll forget. I’ll never forget where I where I was when David Freeze hit the home run and and all of that. I don’t know that this World Series had that one big moment. It had a ton ton of just really big moments. I don’t know if it had the one maybe the Miggy Rojas home run. Um you know, even in the 16 World Series, the Cubs won it, but most I remember from that World Series was the Raja Davis home run. Um and maybe that’s what you remember from from this World Series is just the Migi Rojos home run, just the unlikeliest. The guys talking about retiring after the year and there was just so many plays. Poor Blue Jays fans, man. My my heart just pours out for them and just how close they were. I mean, the play at home with IKF, if he just gets a little bit better secondary lead, you know, that foot from Will Smith is hovering in the air for just a second. It it did look like he got back down just in time. Um, you know, the the ball by uh Ernie Clement where Pahz and Hernandez collided, you know, if that had gone just a few feet further. Uh, it’s just so many close close plays in that series. It could have gone one way that it was just refreshing. I mean, I myself expect the Dodgers to just blow them out and this not even really be a series. Credit to the Blue Jays. I mean, not only did they make it a series, I mean, you can argue for most of the series they were they looked like the better team, but it was that close. It was that that tight. You give the you know the Dodgers a lot of credit too. They obviously have all that talent for a reason and that talent played out. They also tells you as a baseball fan you can spend as much money as you want to. You got to play the game the right way and that Blue Jays played the game the right way and again that’s a coin flip series. They could have very easily won it. You go back to the 18 inning game. So many moments in that one where it could have gone the other way and they could have won this thing in five games. And so it’s just it was a really fun entertaining series. Obviously hate that the Dodgers won it again, but they’re the best team in baseball for a reason. They have the most talent. They spend the most money. They’re the best run organization, and that’s why they won. That’s where the Braves are hoping to get to. That’s where the Braves want to go. This managerial hire, hopefully a big off season, you know, continue to develop the farm system, which I think they’re doing a better job of. And hopefully the Braves can get to that that place again. And, you know, that’s the are the gold standard. Like them or love them, love them or hate them, I think that’s what I meant to say. They are the gold standard. And that’s what everybody is shooting for and hopefully the Braves can get back to that very very soon with a big off seasonason. So make sure you’re subscribed here to Locked on Brace. We’ll talk about all the happenings this off seasonason managerial hire that should come this week. We’ll cover all that here at Locked On Brace. So hit that subscribe button on YouTube if you haven’t already. Make sure that you rate, review, and subscribe to the Locked Umbra podcast wherever you get your podcast. and we will talk to you next.

Atlanta Braves fans demanding an aggressive offseason finally get their wish list. What if Alex Anthopoulos opened the checkbook and made five strategic moves to transform this roster into a World Series contender?

Jake Mastroianni puts on his GM hat to outline exactly how the Braves should attack free agency and trades. Ha-Seong Kim emerges as the shortstop solution despite injury concerns. Raisel Iglesias returns as closer, while Gregory Soto provides the situational lefty weapon the bullpen desperately needs. Zac Gallen brings innings-eating reliability to the rotation. The crown jewel? Cody Bellinger as the perfect fit for Atlanta’s lineup, combining contact skills with 20-30 home run power and elite defensive versatility across multiple positions.

The breakdown includes detailed contract proposals, backup options at each position, and listener suggestions ranging from Jeremy Peña to Jordan Duran. Plus, reflections on how the Dodgers became baseball’s gold standard and what the Braves must do to catch them.

Discover the complete offseason blueprint that could reshape Atlanta’s championship window.

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0:00 Intro

0:31 Five Moves for the Braves Offseason

3:34 Move #1: Signing Ha-Seong Kim at Shortstop

7:38 Move #2: Bringing Back Raisel Iglesias

9:10 Move #3: Adding Gregory Soto as Lefty

10:41 Move #4: Targeting Zac Gallen for Rotation

16:48 Move #5: Pursuing Cody Bellinger as Big Bat

21:23 Projected Lineup with These Additions

29:03 World Series Recap and Dodgers Dominance