3 numbers that showcase key offseason decisions awaiting the Braves

ATLANTA -- Before we spend the next few weeks and months debating what the Braves should do via free agency and trades, let’s take a look at some of the team’s key decisions.

196: This was Chris Sale’s Adjusted ERA (ERA+), which accounts for league average metrics in a specific season and home ballpark factors. The only Braves to produce a better mark (min. 25 starts) in a season were Greg Maddux (271 in 1994 and 260 in 1995) and Reynaldo López (208 in 2024).

In other words, Sale pitching once every six or seven days on a regular basis worked. His average velocity on his four-seamer (96.1 mph) was the highest of his career and he didn’t spend any time on the injured list. So, how do you enhance the odds of him achieving similar success during his age-38 season?

Well, you start by sticking to the same plan that led Sale to be playfully recognized as “the Friday night starter” near the end of this year. The Braves regularly gave the 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner extended rest despite having an injury-ravaged rotation. How do they make sure they have the depth necessary to do so again in 2027?

Sale, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder are the only current members of the organization who should be projected to make 25-plus starts next year. López’s right shoulder will likely continue to limit him. Spencer Schwellenbach will face great uncertainty as he attempts to pitch with a screw in his right elbow. If Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider are healthy enough to pitch, would they be best used as starters or relievers?

If the Braves do give Didier Fuentes some starts next year, how do they govern his workload? The young phenom has never thrown more than 73 1/3 innings in a season. AJ Smith-Shawver will be further removed from Tommy John surgery. Both he and JR Ritchie have great upside. As for No. 10 prospect Owen Murphy, he may gain the chance to make a better impression than he did this year.

Re-signing Tyler Mahle would be a big win this offseason. But when you account for the questions beyond Sale, Holmes and Elder, there’s reason to argue the Braves may need to add two starters this winter.

67: This is the Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) total the Braves received from the shortstop position this year. This means the offensive production was 33 percent below league average. There’s also reason to be concerned about the production at third base (82 wRC+), left field (85 wRC+) and second base (85 wRC+). But one hole is more glaring than the others, and it might be the easiest to fix.

Will the Braves make Mauricio Dubón their everyday shortstop? When playing the shortstop position, Dubón produced 115 wRC+ and he had a Fielding Run Value of +3. The highly skilled utility man proved himself as an everyplay player this year. Would it be best to make him the everyday shortstop, or continue to take advantage of his defensive versatility?

One year after the Braves landed Dubón because the Astros didn’t want to pay him approximately $6 million via arbitration, the 32-year-old infielder is the top shortstop available on this year’s free-agent market. So, demand will increase the cost. But we’ve already seen the significant value he brings on the field and in the clubhouse.

As for losing Dubón’s defensive versatility, the most significant loss here would be in left field. But the Braves could either attempt to land an everyday left fielder (Randy Arozarena and Ian Happ are the top free agents) or a right-handed bat to platoon with Mike Yastrzemski, who had just a .697 OPS against right-handed pitchers this year.

16 million: This has been Raisel Iglesias’ annual salary going back to the start of the 2023 season. Should the Braves bring the 36-year-old reliever back with another one-year, $16 million deal? Robert Suarez’s fastball had good life during the postseason. But the team’s medical staff will need to convince the front office that Suarez’s right elbow won’t be a problem again next year. There’s also reason to be concerned about Dylan Lee’s second-half decline. The Braves will need to weigh all of this before deciding whether to re-sign Iglesias. The bullpen depth will also be impacted by the decision regarding Fuentes’ role in 2027.