After “Brutal” 2025 Season, Braves Face Key Winter: Ozuna, Morton, Iglesias Head Free Agent List.vc
Atlanta opted not to “sell” at the deadline, and now they must decide the future of key veterans as the free-agent market officially begins.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves knew this was coming. After a “brutal” 2025 season, which saw the team fall to a disappointing spot in the standings, the front office faced a crossroads.
They could have started a rebuild by trading away a few veterans at the July deadline. But they didn’t. It was a clear signal that the front office believed in the team’s core and viewed 2025 as a blip, not the end of an era.
Now, that deadline silence is being put to the test.
The 2025 MLB season officially ended Saturday night, with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series. And just like that, the 2026 season has begun. The free-agent market is open, and MLB has released the official list of eligible veterans.
For the Braves, that list includes four notable names, each representing a major question the team must answer.
The Braves’ Four Key Free Agents
- Marcell Ozuna (DH)
- Charlie Morton (RHP)
- Raisel Iglesias (RHP)
- Connor Seabold (RHP)
Tough Decisions Await
The Braves’ core for 2026 remains largely intact, with names like Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Michael Harris II all locked into contracts. However, the loss of these four players—three of them significant veterans—creates immediate holes.
Marcell Ozuna, “The Big Bear,” still possesses “strong hitting ability.” However, as the analysis points out, he is “definitely a DH-only at this point.” With Ozuna turning 35 and showing signs of “decline,” the question is: Do the Braves want to pay for a full-time DH who may not be the “spark” the lineup desperately needs?
Charlie Morton is a story of sentiment and durability. At 41, “Uncle Charlie” is a warrior, but a difficult 2025 season led many to believe he is “probably washed up.” Morton is the “kind of guy who could try to pitch forever,” but relying on him as a stable part of the rotation is a major risk. Will he retire, or will the Braves offer a one-year, leadership-heavy contract?
Raisel Iglesias may be the most urgent loss. He “remains a solid reliever” for “decent leverage” situations. Losing a reliable, late-inning arm would create a “huge hole” in a bullpen that already struggled in 2025. Replacing him will not be cheap.
Finally, Connor Seabold is a depth arm. While not a game-changing loss, he represents a roster spot that must be filled as the Braves look to rebuild their pitching depth.
What Comes Next Will Say a Lot
The Braves could try to bring a few of these players back, but the message from the 2025 season was clear: this roster, as constructed, was not enough. They “need a spark,” and simply bringing Ozuna back wouldn’t fit that bill.
What the Braves’ front office does next “will say a lot” about how they feel about their chances in 2026. Will they aggressively pursue a more dynamic DH? Will they spend big to solidify the bullpen after Iglesias’s departure? Will they seek a younger, more reliable starter to replace Morton?
The 2025 season is over. Atlanta’s winter of discontent—or opportunity—has only just begun.
