Talk About a Bummer of a Contract

Alex Anthopoulos checked off most of the Atlanta Braves’ offseason priorities before the calendar even flipped to 2026. By aggressively reshaping the bullpen with the additions of Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias, the Braves addressed one of their biggest weaknesses early and decisively.

Now, attention turns to the rotation.

If Atlanta wants to put the finishing touch on what has already been an impressive offseason, adding a dependable starting pitcher feels like the final piece. But with payroll already exceeding last season’s mark, flexibility has become an issue. That’s where Aaron Bummer enters the conversation.

Why Aaron Bummer Is the Logical Salary Dump

Trading Bummer wouldn’t be about talent as much as roster balance and financial efficiency.

Bummer posted a respectable 3.82 ERA in 2025, but his season ended on the 60-day injured list, and his role never clearly settled into high leverage. More importantly, due to a reworked deal last offseason, Bummer is owed $9.5 million in 2026—a hefty number for a reliever who is no longer essential to the bullpen hierarchy.

Atlanta can now afford to view him as expendable.

The bullpen is deep enough to absorb his departure, especially after the Suarez and Iglesias signings. Meanwhile, the rotation still carries unanswered questions that loom much larger over a full season.

There Could Still Be a Market

Moving Bummer won’t be easy, but it isn’t impossible.

Despite the injury concerns, Bummer remains elite in one critical area: limiting hard contact. His groundball rate sits in the 94th percentile, a skill that analytically inclined contenders covet. A team like the Dodgers, which routinely bets on upside arms and isn’t afraid to absorb salary, could view Bummer as a worthwhile reclamation project.

Even if the return is minimal, the Braves wouldn’t be making this move for prospect capital.

They’d be making it for flexibility.

Clearing the Path for a Rotation Upgrade

Freeing up $9.5 million could significantly change Atlanta’s options. Pitchers such as Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, and Freddy Peralta remain available via free agency or trade, and financial breathing room could be the difference between finishing second in a bidding war—or winning it.

More importantly, adding a legitimate starter would stabilize the rotation and reduce bullpen strain over the course of a long season, a crucial factor for a team with championship aspirations.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t an indictment of Aaron Bummer as a pitcher. It’s a recognition that his contract no longer aligns with Atlanta’s needs.

For a contender, reallocating resources from a non-essential reliever to a frontline starter is simply good roster management. The blueprint is clear. The motive makes sense.

Now it’s on Anthopoulos to see if he can find a trade partner willing to tak