History suggests more Braves moves likely to come very soon

The Atlanta Braves have started getting to work on what will likely be a very busy offseason, signing Raisel Iglesias to a one-year deal and acquiring Mauricio Dubon from the Astros.

Iglesias is the first piece of a bullpen puzzle that got a lot more complicated a couple of weeks ago when the Braves declined the options on both Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley. He’ll likely be the team’s closer next season, but as Alex Anthopoulos noted at the MLB GM Meetings last week, Atlanta is in the market for a lot of relievers. They have to add several more before the season begins, and not just the journeyman lottery tickets we’ve seen in the past.

The trade for Mauricio Dubon also gives the Braves a possible answer at shortstop. He’s a better all-around player than Nick Allen, raising the floor at the position, but in an ideal world he’d serve more as a super-utility piece rather than a full-time shortstop. Atlanta will continue to evaluate their options, including Ha-Seong Kim, but there aren’t many clear paths if Kim signs elsewhere.

Another proven starter also feels like a non-negotiable, as does finding a middle-of-the-order bat to replace Marcell Ozuna — unless the Braves decide to bring Ozuna back through free agency.

Simply put, there’s still a ton of work to be done, and if history has taught us anything, we shouldn’t have to wait long for Anthopoulos’ next significant splash. He’s a general manager who has always been incredibly active in November while the rest of the league prefers to let the market play itself out.

Notable November Additions

• Braves sign Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann (2018)
• Braves sign Will Smith and Travis d’Arnaud (2019)
• Braves sign Charlie Morton (2020)
• Braves trade for Aaron Bummer (2023)
• Braves sign Reynaldo Lopez (2023)
• Braves trade for Nick Allen (2024)
• Braves sign Raisel Iglesias (2025)
• Braves trade for Mauricio Dubon (2025)

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Anthopoulos likes to act fast, but the difference this offseason is they’ve never had this many holes to fill at any point during his tenure. Fans likely won’t have to wait much longer before Atlanta’s next substantial acquisition comes down the pike.

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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