Bravos Insight

Last season, the Braves and Alex Anthopoulos (AA), got caught unprepared for what the 2025 baseball season had to offer. And to be fair, no one could have predicted the onslaught of injuries that plagued the Braves season. However, today’s professional sports market is a win-now industry, and Athlopoulos seems hell-bent on not allowing history to repeat itself. When the offseason began, there were several items on the to-do list if the Braves were going to right the wrongs from this past season.

AA has addressed many of the items he prioritized when the offseason began. By re-signing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim and trading for utilityman Mauricio Dubón, the Braves have secured the infield’s defense and provided quality depth to handle any surprise visits from the injury bug. With the re-signing of closer Raisel Iglesias, and the free agent signing of closer/setup man Robert Suarez, the Braves have solidified the backend of their bullpen once again. The one thing that has always been missing from the Braves was the quality fourth outfielder. They were handcuffed by pretending Marcell Ozuna was an “emergency” outfielder, and that Eli White would be able to provide quality at bats on a regular basis.   

Again, Anthopoulos was never going to allow mistakes from the past to sneak up and become a trend. On December 10th, the Braves signed Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year, $23 million contract. Yastrzemski will earn $9 million in 2026 and $10 million in 2027. The deal includes a club option worth $7 million for the 2028 season, with a $4 million buyout.

The 35-year-old Yastrzemski made his MLB debut at 28, hitting 21 home runs as a rookie. Over the next five seasons, he received regular playing time, performing well against right-handed pitchers but usually sitting against lefties. Despite a high strikeout rate, he maintained a wRC+ of at least 106 in nearly every season with the Giants.

Yastrzemski has primarily played right field, but has shown solid experience in left and center field, demonstrating versatility that is highly valuable. According to Outs Above Average, he was a neutral fielder, with average range but strong arm, indicating that while he may not excel in covering ground, his defensive capabilities are nonetheless effective. Yastrzemski’s ability to play each of the outfield spots will give manager Walt Weiss a chance to regularly rest each of his three regular outfielders — Jurickson Profar, Michael Harris II, and Ronald Acuña Jr. — by either using them as the DH, or by giving them more days off than Atlanta’s starters have gotten over the past few years, allowing for a more strategic approach to player management and health.

With Yastrzemski being a better defensive option than Profar, he might get a majority of his outfield starts in left field, especially if the team aims to optimize their fielding performance while keeping key players fresh for the stretch run of the season. This strategic move not only enhances team dynamics but also provides Yastrzemski an opportunity to solidify his role and showcase his skills more prominently on the field.

This signing has shown the unwillingness to venture into past nightmares. The lack of depth in the farm system finally showed it’s ugly face, and the Braves were forced to look in the mirror. While this offseason has provided some much needed depth, as well as some contracts that extend these luxuries into the future, the Braves will need multiple drafts to reload a baron farm system. We welcome Mike Yastrzemski to the Braves Clubhouse with open arms and a full heart, but will keep a watchful eye on the farm to ensure our optimism isn’t blind.