“Iglesias has actually pitched himself back into the conversation for sticking around. He might have gotten that chance due to poor performance putting a dent in his trade stock, but he showed, regardless, that he’s as good as he’s ever been,” SI’s Harrison Smajovits wrote.
Not trading or releasing Iglesias could be a sign that the Braves are leaning toward bringing him back for 2026. A short-term deal could give them stability at closer while they search for a long-term option.
“When Atlanta didn’t trade Raisel Iglesias this season, some fans wondered if this was a sign the closer would stick around beyond this year. Well, he could have been traded and still re-signed this offseason. But now, he could just be re-signed,” Braves insider Mark Bowman wrote.
However, if Iglesias doesn’t return, the Braves could swing big and target Mets closer Edwin Díaz.
“If the Braves want to swing big for a closer there will be no player who will qualify more for this than Mets closer Edwin Diaz. The 2025 season showcased that Diaz is back to full strength after he posted a stellar 1.63 ERA and 13.3 K/9. Diaz is still one of the best swing and miss pitchers in baseball, and he has everything you could want in a closer when looking at his Statcast profile. Diaz can opt-out of his deal and instantly become the best reliever on the market this offseason. If Anthopoulos chooses to go this route, it won’t come cheap,” HTHB’s Chase Owens wrote.
Signing Díaz would be a statement move — and a rivalry one at that. Adding one of the most dominant arms in baseball could give Atlanta the late-inning firepower it needs to return to the postseason. Díaz in a Braves uniform might look unusual at first, but it could be exactly the kind of aggressive move the franchise needs right now.
