One of the more surprising decisions of a frustrating Atlanta Braves' 2025 season was opting to remain silent at this year's trade deadline. Aside from the trade of veteran reliever Rafael Montero, the Braves opted to keep their failing roster together.
This was an odd decision for a team that could use the roster spots for younger, less proven players. Even veterans under contract, like Sean Murphy and Ozzie Albies, were speculated as potential tradeable assets. The Braves' opting not only to fail to make a splashy move, but the obvious ones was questionable. Any return for Marcell Ozuna or Raisel Iglesias made sense.
Even the lowest prospect offers a bit of hope of future value, but both veteran players are heading to free agency. Already, the Braves are losing key pieces for nothing, leaving any return worth making the move in a lost season. Closer Raisel Iglesias is the perfect example of this as a player the team cannot afford to re-sign. This isn't based on salary, but on the consistent lack of production the star has offered.
Braves Won't Re-sign Failing Closer Raisel Iglesias
Iglesias has a 4.63 ERA and has already lost the closing role once this season. Atlanta turned back to the veteran due to a complete lack of other options. Nothing about the veteran's season gives reason to believe it is an outlier. The lack of production at his age is alarming and suggests that it is time to turn the page and find another option for the game's final frame.
The veteran reliever would be replaced already if the team had anything close to a capable bullpen. Turning back to Iglesias isn't due to improved performance but due to a complete lack of remaining options. If Atlanta had spent the money needed to improve the unit, not only would the veteran be demoted, but perhaps the Braves would be in a far better position. Regardless, the point remains that the Braves' opting to keep Iglesias makes little sense. Dealing the veteran for any return is better than allowing the contract to expire.
Atlanta's explanation for this has been the fact that they aren't willing to give away players without a meaningful return. This logic is a bit circular in the fact that the Braves are already losing expiring contracts for nothing at the end of the season. Any return was the right decision, especially for a player whose time with the organization is clearly coming to an end.