The Atlanta Braves important offseason decisions are inching closer and closer as the World Series heads toward the finish line. Once the Blue Jays and Dodgers wrap up the 2025 season, Alex Anthopoulos will have five days to make a decision on all of the players with a club option in their contract for 2026.
Ha Seong-Kim has the same deadline to make his official decision on the $16 million player option he controls for next season, but that decision is outside the Braves’ control. As for the decisions Anthopoulos himself has to make, some are easier than others and not all are slam dunks to be exercised. Let’s take a look at each player with a club option, the price that comes with it, and whether or not Anthopoulos is likely to keep them in Atlanta.
Here are the five Braves players with club options for 2026
Two of these club option players are a forgone conclusion for Anthopoulos, interestingly in each direction. The slam dunk option to be picked up is veteran LHP Chris Sale’s $18 million option for next season. Earlier this week we wrote up a piece detailing how the Braves could pounce on this great price Sale is due in 2026, and tack on another year if Sale is ready to commit to pitching in 2027.
On the opposite end is perhaps a forgotten man by most Braves fans – David Fletcher. The utility infielder was acquired back in the December of 2023 from the Angels, and Atlanta absorbed the entire contract including his club option for 2026. Fletcher spent all of last season in the upper levels of the Braves minor league system, and his batting average was under the Mendoza line in 83 games played. This makes Fletcher’s $8 million club option for 2026 an easy decline for Anthopoulos. Fletcher’s 2026 option does come with a $1.5 million buyout, so the Braves will have to eat a little money here.
The only other position player who has a club option attached to his name is second baseman Ozzie Albies. Last season was a down year (albeit injury driven) for Curacao native, but the team would only save $3 million if they declined Ozzie’s option. That is because his $7 million club option comes with a $4 million buyout, meaning Ozzie is almost certainly returning as the Braves second baseman next season.
The lone deadline acquisition last July was Tyler Kinley who has a $5.5 million club option for 2026. Kinley was abysmal when pitching in Coors early in the season, but once he began to pitch out of Atlanta’s bullpen he flipped the switch. Kinley posted an incredible 0.72 ERA, 2.74 FIP, and 1.3 bWAR in 25 innings with the Braves. That stellar work down the stretch feels like it will be enough to keep him in Atlanta at his modest price. Kinley’s deal does come with a $750K buyout so if the Braves are cost conscious this winter (please, not again) then Kinley’s option could be declined without much financial loss.
The final name on the list is perhaps the most up in the air decision Anthopoulos will have. Pierce Johnson made it through the guaranteed portion of his deal with Atlanta, and has now reached the $7 million club option part. Johnson posted a 3.05 ERA and 3.92 FIP in 65 games last season, but his results got really shaky down the stretch. Because of Johnson’s poor September, his low $250K buyout, and semi-high $7 million option for a middle innings reliever this decision should be Anthopoulous’ toughest.
You can probably make a sound argument both for and against picking up Johnson’s option, but the biggest factor may be just how much money Anthopoulos has to spend this winter. If Anthopoulos has to address all the other holes on the roster with a tight budget, then he may have no choice but to cut ties with one of Atlanta’s most reliable bullpen arms these past few seasons.
