Atlanta has a second infield decision to weigh
Atlanta’s urgent shortstop search could draw attention away from a quieter question: whether Ozzie Albies should remain the Braves’ everyday second baseman. He’s still a familiar presence and can be retained at a modest price, but three seasons of roughly one to two wins above replacement have left the position more ordinary than his long run of production suggested.
Shortstop is the sharper problem. Mauricio Dubón and Ha-Seong Kim are headed toward free agency, leaving Jim Jarvis as the leading internal option. Atlanta could bring Dubón back on a two-year deal, though his best fit is as a versatile reserve. If Houston makes Jeremy Peña available before his final year of club control, the Braves should be interested. They could also check on younger shortstops such as the Yankees’ Anthony Volpe or Cleveland’s Brayan Rocchio.
Albies’ production has slipped
Albies has been Atlanta’s second baseman for much of the past decade, starting 1,117 games at the position over nine seasons. No other Brave has started more than 44. His $35MM extension, signed in April 2019, has paid off handsomely for the club, and he was a genuine star through 2023.
The next two seasons brought less consistent offense. In 2024, he hit .251/.303/.404, with a broken toe and a wrist fracture offering plausible reasons for the drop. He opened 2025 poorly, then appeared to regain his stroke in the second half before a hamate fracture ended his season a week early. His final line, .240/.306/.365, still made the Braves’ decision to exercise a $7MM option an easy one: the alternative was a $4MM buyout, so keeping him cost only $3MM more.
Last season offered a more mixed picture. Albies played all 162 games for the first time in his career and started 160. A .267/.320/.439 first half, including 14 home runs, earned him an All-Star selection and suggested a return toward his previous level. Then his bat went quiet. His post-break OPS was .575, among the 10 lowest for hitters with at least 200 plate appearances, and he hit .136 with a .189 on-base percentage in September. He did contribute five extra-base hits, including two home runs, across seven playoff games. The regular season ended at .237/.293/.392 in 683 plate appearances.
Among 30 second basemen with at least 400 plate appearances, Albies ranked 25th in on-base percentage and 15th in slugging. His 22 home runs tied for fourth at the position, though he also had more chances to hit than nearly anyone: only Nico Hoerner and Fernando Tatis Jr. had more at-bats. His defensive ratings have generally sat near league average.
That’s not a case for treating second base as Atlanta’s top roster problem. Left field and both spots on the left side of the infield have been greater concerns. But second base hasn’t been a clear strength, either, and it may offer the Braves a more workable route to a roster change than other positions.
A low-cost option could still lead to a trade
Atlanta can keep Albies for another season at $7MM through a club option with no buyout. The likely choice is to exercise it. That salary is in the range of what utility players such as Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Kiké Hernández and Willi Castro have earned in free agency. Albies offers more as an everyday player, and his standing in the clubhouse would make a move harder to imagine than the salary alone suggests.
Picking up the option wouldn’t rule out a trade. A team could see value in one year of Albies at that price, giving Atlanta a chance to explore a deal if it finds a suitable replacement. That flexibility is less available with players carrying longer, more expensive commitments. Austin Riley is signed for six more years and $132MM; moving Sean Murphy, Jurickson Profar or Mike Yastrzemski could require Atlanta to absorb much of the remaining cost.
The farm system doesn’t offer an obvious second-base successor, but the free-agent class does provide alternatives: Brandon Lowe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres and Luis Arraez are all slated to reach the market. Atlanta could also ask whether the Reds, Rays, Red Sox or Rangers would consider Albies, perhaps as part of a deal for a back-end starter.
There are speculative fits to examine. Cincinnati’s Nick Lodolo is projected to earn $5.7MM in his final arbitration season and could benefit from a change of scenery. Boston may not have an opening-day rotation place for Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo or Kutter Crawford. Tampa Bay has one year of club control left on both Shane McClanahan and Griffin Jax. Neither pitcher would make sense for a straight swap, though a larger package could be discussed.
Those names point to possible conversations, not an established market. Albies’ affordable option gives Atlanta room to keep him while it resolves shortstop, then reassess whether a trade would improve the roster. After a decade of stability at second base, the Braves have a credible choice to make.
