Raisel Iglesias is sticking with the Atlanta Braves for at least another season.
The team announced Wednesday that the star reliever has signed a one-year, $16 million contract for the 2026 season. Before the deal, the Braves had a projected payroll of $176.5 million, per Spotrac.
With Iglesias returning to Atlanta for a fifth season, here’s a look at the Braves’ projected bullpen.
Atlanta Braves Projected 2026 Bullpen
Iglesias posted a 3.21 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 73 strikeouts across 67.1 innings last season. He had the ninth-most saves in baseball with 29 and he led the National League with 57 games finished.
Iglesias’ 11th season started out slowly as he had a 6.00 ERA in his first 28 appearances, but he turned things around and collected a 1.34 ERA with 21 saves over the final three months, earning NL Reliever of the Month in August, when he allowed just one run in 13 innings.
Iglesias, who will be 36 by the start of the 2026 season, spent the first six years of his career with the Cincinnati Reds before joining the Los Angeles Angels in 2021. He was traded to the Braves during the 2022 campaign and has been a mainstay of the bullpen ever since.
After reaching the postseason in seven consecutive years, Atlanta was absent from the playoffs following a 76-86 finish to the regular season. It was the Braves’ worst season since 2017.
Atlanta’s bullpen left much to be desired, posting a 4.19 ERA, which ranked 19th in baseball. The Braves have now retained their star closer, but they’ll spend the rest of the offseason finding other ways to improve as they look to put together a bounce-back season.