Braves get brutal Bo Bichette free agent update amid dire shortstop need

Braves get brutal Bo Bichette free agent update amid dire shortstop need originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Braves are one of many teams that need a shortstop this season, as they are losing Ha-Seong Kim to free agency after the former San Diego Padres shortstop declined his player option for 2026.

However, the shortstop market is barren, with Bo Bichette and Kim as the clear best options this winter. While Kim’s return is possible, the Braves would surely love to land a player like Bichette to shore up the position.

Unfortunately, according to a new report from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Braves’ chances of landing Bichette took a nosedive.

Braves’ potential to sign Bo Bichette takes huge hit with latest update

“Free agent Bo Bichette also does not appear to be a possibility for Atlanta.” Sammon and Rosenthal write. “Many teams, knowing Bichette’s defensive metrics are among the league’s worst, no longer view him as a shortstop.”

While Bichette’s defense is one of the worst from the shortstop position, his offensive production is enough for interested teams to sign him. For the Braves, who have a huge hole at the position, signing Bichette would’ve been a big boost.

But, this report indicates that the Braves are not likely to sign Bichette and are much more likely to keep recently acquired Mauricio Dubon as the team’s starting shortstop for 2026.

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Atlanta has a dire need at the position, but is no longer viewed as a player for the top option on the market this winter. Regardless of how Bichette is viewed around the league defensively, the Braves not being a landing spot for Bichette is a brutal update.

Atlanta needs to redirect their attention elsewhere, as a shortstop addition is still a priority, but its targets this offseason won’t include Bichette.

There aren’t a ton of options this offseason at shortstop, and this update on the Braves’ interest in Bichette, the top shortstop free agent, is a tough outlook for Atlanta’s chances of improving the shortstop position this winter.