The Atlanta Braves have enjoyed a surprisingly active 2026 offseason, re-signing key players while adding free agents Robert Suarez and Mike Yastrzemski.
It speaks to an active front office that took the failures of the 2025 season to heart and is searching for every possible improvement. Even this late in the offseason, rumors continue to swirl as the franchise looks to make more improvements. It is great news for Braves fans hoping for a bounce-back year after finishing last season well below .500 and far out of the postseason picture.
With this in mind, fans may see additional moves before spring training action begins. Looking at possible remaining fits, there are clear options that could be great wildcards to add to what appears to be an already greatly improved 2026 roster.
1. Jason Heyward
This has less to do with Heyward's contributions and more with what the outfielder meant to the franchise. Heyward's career appears to be coming to a close, and he should be given a chance to go out with the team where it all started. Bringing the outfielder into spring training to see if there is anything left in the tank, or a possible coaching fit, would be a great final chapter as the veteran appears to be quickly closing in on retirement.
2. Shelby Miller
Miller recorded incredible numbers with the Arizona Diamondbacks, offering 10 saves and a 1.98 ERA in a relief role. However, the right-hander's season frustratingly ended after struggling following a trade to the Brewers. The former Brave suffered a season-ending injury, forcing his 2026 season to be a rehab year. Atlanta shouldn't be overly interested, but could at least consider a potential reunion with the reliever, offering a chance to return to his former franchise to rehab and go ahead and lock up a wildcard for the 2027 season at an incredibly cheap rate.
3. Tim Anderson
The Braves addressed the offseason injury to Ha-Seong Kim by bringing in Jorge Mateo as infield depth. However, if Anderson were to take a non-guaranteed deal, the veteran infielder would be a fun wildcard to bring into spring training. Rewind to the 2021 season, and the shortstop had 163 hits and scored 94 runs while hitting above .300 for the Chicago White Sox. Even with this player seemingly long gone, it couldn't hurt to offer the infielder a chance.
4. Lucas Giolito
This is by far the most exciting fit, offering the Braves a chance to put both Grant Holmes and Reynaldo Lopez in the bullpen. Giolito needs to be the final piece in Atlanta's rotation and should thrive in a less pressure-driven role. This hands the Braves one of, if not the most complete, bullpens and rotations in the National League.
5. Jonah Heim
Heim's potential fit is more about maintaining Atlanta's ability to keep Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy in the lineup and less about any clear accolades or fit for the catcher. Heim has offered inconsistent production throughout his career, but is an experienced big league presence that could serve as great emergency depth if Atlanta opts to carry three catchers.
6. Max Scherzer
The same logic behind signing Giolito applies here for an incredibly experienced and accomplished starter. Scherzer is coming off a rough season that showed clear signs of aging and likely is going to force the starter to settle for a value one-year deal in hopes of putting together one last season defying Father Time. Considering the loss of Charlie Morton, it would be ideal to have veteran leadership and the wildcard of an aging star.
7. David Fletcher
With recent infield injuries for the Braves, it makes sense to bring back Fletcher on a potential minor league deal. There isn't an infielder ready to step into the starting role, leaving the team's best bet being to focus on cheap depth and hope to find an answer. Fletcher isn't going to win you many games, but he is a proven veteran who offers upside in a pinch.
8. Jon Gray
With the Braves clearly desiring to add to the end of their rotation ahead of the 2026 season, Gray is a wildcard that shouldn't be ignored. The veteran has offered productive seasons as recently as 2023 and could be a potential bargain depth signing as a reclamation project. While it isn't the best pitching fit on the market, it is worth consideration.