ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – It’s February, which means baseball will be played every month through November.
All eyes now turn to pitchers and catchers reporting next week.
Coming off a 76-86 season in 2025, expectations have been revitalized for an Atlanta Braves club that bolstered its roster through a series of offseason acquisitions. Add in the return of several key players from injury, and the Braves once again look like a World Series contender.
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Here is a prediction of what the final 26-man roster will look like on Opening Day, in which the Braves will host the Kansas City Royals on March 27. Pitchers and catchers report Monday, Feb. 9, with workouts beginning the following day.
POSITION PLAYERS (13)
Catchers: Drake Baldwin and Chadwick Tromp
It was already expected that catcher Sean Murphy would be out until May as he recovers from hip surgery, making Drake Baldwin the team’s primary catcher to start the regular season.
That sets up a competition for the backup role. Atlanta invited catchers Jair Camargo, Sandy León and Chadwick Tromp to North Port, and the decision will likely come down to their performances during Grapefruit League play.
For now, we’ll lean toward Tromp, who has slashed .234/.250/.351 in 28 games with the Braves since 2022. He’ll be competing for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic under manager Andruw Jones and pitching coach Jair Jurrjens.
Atlanta Braves’ Drake Baldwin (30) celebrates Marcell Ozuna (20) in the second inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)(Mike Stewart | AP)
Infielders: Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Mauricio Dubón, Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Jorge Mateo
Ha-Seong Kim signed a one-year, $20 million contract to be the team’s starting shortstop in 2026, but due to an accident in Korea that required hand surgery, he will miss Opening Day and could be out until May at the earliest.
With that, the team is turning to utilityman Mauricio Dubón to play shortstop until Kim’s return, leaving Jorge Mateo — who signed a one-year deal in January — to serve as a backup to start the season.
Kyle Farmer, a Marist and University of Georgia product, was recently added to Atlanta’s list of nonroster invitees and will compete for a bench spot on the Opening Day roster. The 35-year-old slashed .227/.280/.365 with Colorado last season and would need to perform well in camp to have a real shot at making the Opening Day roster.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. should also have a role with the club this year after a solid season, showing versatility when needed. At 22, Alvarez offers enough offensive upside to remain with the club as an emergency option, especially with Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley coming off recent injuries.
Houston Astros’ Mauricio Dubon bats against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)(Eric Christian Smith | AP)
Outfielders: Ronald Acuña Jr., Jurickson Profar, Michael Harris II, Mike Yastrzemski and Eli White
The Braves improved this offseason not only by acquiring Dubón but by signing outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal with a club option for 2028. This gives the team flexibility as it enters the first year without Marcell Ozuna in the designated hitter role.
Profar and Yastrzemski can split left field and designated hitter duties, with Yastrzemski getting more opportunities defensively thanks to his superior glove. That said, he can play all outfield positions, while Eli White is expected to see occasional opportunities in both the outfield and the infield and serve as a reliable pinch runner.
Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)(Colin Hubbard | AP)PITCHING STAFF (13)
Starting pitchers: Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez and Hurston Waldrep
Sale, Schwellenbach and Strider are locks for the rotation—no debate there. The real questions begin once you get past those three as spring training approaches.
Waldrep, after his stellar showing across nine starts last season, has a shot at making the Opening Day rotation this year. That opportunity, however, depends on whether the team believes his presence in the rotation is worth the risk of losing another arm.
Grant Holmes, Joey Wentz and Bryce Elder are out of minor league options. If Waldrep breaks camp in the rotation, two of those three would likely shift to the bullpen, while the remaining pitcher would have to pass through waivers for the team to retain him.
Wentz spent last season in the bullpen after being claimed off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, but he filled in as a starter once injuries began to take their toll on the rotation. So, we’ll put him there for now. López and Holmes are both coming off injuries, so opening the season in relief for one of them wouldn’t be the worst outcome.
That leaves Elder as the odd man out. The 26-year-old was exceptional in September, posting a 3.13 ERA with 32 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. Given his age and longevity, it’s difficult to envision him settling into a bullpen role—or clearing waivers—if this ultimately becomes the team’s path going forward.
And of course, there’s always the possibility of the Braves picking up another free-agent arm. Chris Bassitt, Nick Martinez and future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are all options. Zac Gallen—who’s been linked to the Braves as of late—is still available, but the team would need to give up a 2026 draft pick for his services, which is something Alex Anthopoulos isn’t willing to do.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Hurston Waldrep delivers to Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)(David Dermer | AP)
Relief pitchers: Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, Dylan Lee, Tyler Kinley, Joel Payamps, Daysbel Hernández, Aaron Bummer, Grant Holmes and Joey Wentz
With an underwhelming performance from their bullpen in 2025, the Braves signed top free-agent right-hander Robert Suarez and brought back right-handers Raisel Iglesias and Tyler Kinley. On paper, those additions all but eliminate concerns of a repeat performance in 2026.
Now, nothing is guaranteed — but the track records are hard to ignore.
Iglesias, who re-signed with the team on a one-year, $16 million contract, posted a 1.25 ERA over the 45 appearances he made since June 9. Suarez, who signed with the team on a three-year, $45 million deal, posted a 2.97 ERA in 69.2 innings with San Diego last season. Kinley, meanwhile, inked a one-year, $4.25 million contract, a bargain for the veteran right-hander who delivered a 0.72 ERA and 2.74 FIP over 24 appearances with the Braves after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline.
Right away, those three give the Braves a stabilized back end to the bullpen. Paired with southpaws Dylan Lee (3.29 ERA in 74 appearances last season) and Aaron Bummer (3.81 ERA in 42 appearances), Atlanta suddenly has five reliable arms capable of handling late- and middle-inning relief.
The final two bullpen spots — with Holmes and Wentz serving as potential long-relief options — could go to right-handers Daysbel Hernández and Joel Payamps. Payamps, who signed with the Braves on a one-year, $2.25 million contract, could be a key figure in the bullpen while Hernández will look to build on his 2025 campaign, during which he posted a 3.41 ERA across 37 innings.
As noted earlier, Holmes and Wentz could be swapped out for Elder or other arms in long-relief roles, depending on how the roster shakes out. The same goes for Payamps and Hernández, who will be competing for those spots this spring alongside non-roster invitees Elieser Hernández, James Karinchak and Martin Pérez. Pérez, however, could emerge as a dark-horse candidate for a starting role.
Projected LineupRF: Ronald Acuña Jr.1B: Matt Olson3B: Austin RileyC: Drake BaldwinDH: Jurickson Profar2B: Ozzie AlbiesLF: Mike YastrzemskiCF: Michael Harris IISS: Mauricio DubónProjected BenchChadwick TrompJorge MateoNacho Alvarez Jr.Eli WhiteHa-Seong Kim*Sean Murphy*Projected RotationChris SaleSpencer SchwellenbachSpencer StriderReynaldo LópezHurston WaldrepProjected BullpenCL: Raisel Iglesias (R)SU: Robert Suarez (R), Dylan Lee (L)RP: Tyler Kinley (R), Joel Payamps (R), Daysbel Hernández (R), Aaron Bummer (L)LRP: Grant Holmes (R), Joey Wentz (L)
* Indicates player is currently injured.
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