Looking at the Atlanta Braves' 2026 offseason, no addition is more potentially exciting than current Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette. Ahead of hitting free agency, the infielder chose the perfect time to have a great year offensively, maintaining an average well over .300 and hitting well situationally: two skillsets that have been incredibly elusive to find within Atlanta's current lineup. This is especially the case with the middle infield, with Nick Allen and Ozzie Albies offering limited production for much of the year.
While Allen has been benched and Albies has shown signs of life, it is still fair to expect major changes in the offseason. The nuclear option is signing Bichette, giving the shortstop whatever it takes to add a stabilizing force near the top of the lineup.
With that said, there has been a concerning development with the shortstop suffering a left knee injury early in the month. It appears to have ended Bichette's quest for 200 hits, an incredible stat the shortstop was on pace to easily hit prior to the injury. Still, it doesn't seem the knee issues are alarming enough to change Atlanta's path.
Braves Top Offseason Priority Should Be Chasing Star Blue Jays Shortstop Bo Bichette
Even if the injury keeps Bichette out of the lineup longer than expected, this is the perfect fit for what Atlanta is missing. A consistent complaint throughout the year was the lack of offense from Allen and his zero situational hitting ability. Signing Bichette is going to be a costly move, but one that drastically improves your offense and pushes the franchise back towards relevance.
The one concern is the fact that Toronto is in the middle of a heated playoff race. If Bichette is able to return and help fuel a deep postseason run, the price could possibly skyrocket out of the comfort zone of a cheap front office. However, this season's epic failures should be more than enough reason to change this stance and pay what it takes to land the only franchise shortstop set to hit the market.
Atlanta needs a big free agency win to give fans a reason to believe that brighter days are still ahead. The top priorities in this category are obvious in the needs at shortstop and in the Braves' bullpen. Fix both of these issues, and you're going to have a group capable of competing for the National League East in the 2026 season.
Ultimately, it will come down to the next weeks of the regular season and postseason to determine whether or not Bichette will remain in Atlanta's price range. Something fans can only hope for as they search for possible savings to offset the possible addition. One such move could be trading veteran catcher Sean Murphy, who is far less important after the emergence of Drake Baldwin.
Regardless, there is no denying just how perfect a fit Bichette is for this franchise, no matter the price. Atlanta will be offered a clear advantage as well, with the league's top contenders all having the position already locked away. Leaving Atlanta and Toronto as Bichette's most obvious offseason suitors.