MLB · NL East · Est. 1871 · Truist Park
Updated March 16, 2026
The Braves re-signed Raisel Iglesias on a one-year, $16 million deal and brought in Mike Yastrzemski on a two-year pact, but otherwise stood pat while rivals loaded up. For a team that once dominated the NL East, the farm system has thinned out and the window feels like it's narrowing around Ronald Acuna Jr. and the aging core.
Ronald Acuna Jr. remains the franchise's engine, but durability concerns loom large after his torn ACL in 2024. If Acuna can play 140-plus games in 2026, the Braves are a playoff team. If he can't, the lineup around him may not have enough firepower to compensate.
The flamethrowing right-hander continues his long road back from elbow surgery, and how quickly Strider can rejoin the rotation will define Atlanta's ceiling. Max Fried is gone, Charlie Morton is gone, and the Braves desperately need Strider to recapture his dominance.