Every single Atlanta Braves fan wants the Braves to pursue the top players every single offseason. Fans simply want the best players on their team, especially when your team is actually competing for a playoff spot regularly. However, one reason why Atlanta (and other teams) aren’t as active at the top of the market as their fans would like has to do with the MLB qualifying offer system.
Basically, teams can give a “qualifying offer” of a set amount (this offseason, it is $22.205 million for one year) to pending free agents. If that player declines that offer, their previous team will get a draft pick when they sign elsewhere and their new team will lose at least one pick with which picks depending on team’s payroll status. This offseason, 13 players were given qualifying offers with nine of them declining that offer.
While there were always players that could have intrigued the Braves who received qualifying offer, Alex Anthopoulos’ declaration that a QO would not dissuade Atlanta from the right deal despite the extra pick Drake Baldwin’s ROY win netted the team were pretty eye opening. They also raise the question as to which relevant free agent(s) might actually be worth the cost.
Worded incorrectly earlier: #Braves would consider giving up bonus 1st-round pick they got for Baldwin winning ROY, to sign a free agent who turned down QO if deal made sense. AA compared it to trading a prospect and said team has more certainty about prospects than draft picks.
— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) December 8, 2025Here are the free agents with qualifying offers that are (or are not) worth the cost for the Braves
As neither a competitive balance tax payor last season nor a team receiving revenue-sharing, the Braves would lose their second highest draft pick in order to sign any players with a qualifying offers attached. This is why Baldwin winning ROY is so relevant as that means Atlanta would have to give up a pick at the bottom of the first round to sign any of these guys.
However, that doesn’t mean that some wouldn’t be worth the cost.
Kyle Tucker
This is surprisingly close because of just how much it would take to sign Tucker. Anyone who is arguing that Tucker isn’t a stud when he is on the field is kidding themselves. However, his recent injury issues combined with the likely $300+ million price tag would keep him elsewhere even without the qualifying offer attached.
Verdict: Not worth it….too expensive either way.
Framber Valdez
The Braves could definitely use a lefty starter with Valdez’s pedigree. However, if they were going to pay this kind of money for one, they would have just kept Max Fried. There are also some understandable character concerns that stem from his treatment of his teammates in Houston.
Verdict: Not worth the cost especially with the character concerns.
Bo Bichette
Obviously Atlanta could use a quality shortstop and Bichette is one of the best free agents on the market who has been repeatedly connected to the Braves. However, his glove is probably going to require a shift off of shortstop and he is another guy that simply doesn’t fit at his price point with the Braves given where they will want to be salary-wise even ignoring the potential lost draft pick.
Verdict: Nope, he isn’t even really a shortstop anymore.
Kyle Schwarber
Schwarber is going to be prohibitively expensive wherever he signs and he is already fielding a lot of interest this offseason. There is an argument for the Braves to pursue him given how badly Schwarber owned Atlanta last season, but Alex Anthopoulos has already signaled that they don’t want a full-time DH type right now. If they did go that direction, a reunion with Marcell Ozuna seems to be more likely.
Verdict: Nope, full-time DHs need not apply.
Ranger Suarez
Suarez may actually be worth it. It is unclear exactly how much it would cost to sign Suarez with one estimate from MLB Trade Rumors coming in at five years, $115 million. That would be a really solid level of investment in a 30 year-old lefty that has been incredibly consistent over the last five season. If that price tag is real, Atlanta should jump at that despite the draft pick loss. If Suarez is wanting a crazy deal, the Braves should probably pass.
Verdict: Yes….to a point.
Dylan Cease
A non-issue now as Cease signed an insane deal with the Blue Jays. That said, his profile was already a little spooky and at that price, the Braves were smart to hang on to the draft pick and their cash.
Verdict: Already signed elsewhere, but wouldn’t have been worth it.
Edwin Diaz
Diaz is awesome, but signing relievers with qualifying offers attached is asking for trouble. There is a strong likelihood that Diaz wants a deal similar to his previous bullpen mega-deal from the Mets. At that price, the Braves would already be out even if they got to keep their first round pick.
Verdict: Definitely pass
Michael King
King might end up being worth it when the dust settles, but the Braves should be wary of his injury history. King can be great, but there is also a chance that he won’t be able to continue holding up in the rotation and will require a shift to the bullpen. Let someone else take the risk with a lesser draft pick.
Verdict: Close, but too risky given his injury issues.
Zac Gallen
It was already wild enough that Gallen was floated as an option for the Braves at a very high salary figure. That people actually think they would pay Gallen like an ace AND give up a first round pick after his down 2025 season is deeply upsetting. If Atlanta decides to bet on the former Cy Young contender does this, it would be a mistake (probably).
Verdict: Nope, not worth it (it might still happen, though)