It is getting to be crunch time for the Atlanta Braves.

They thankfully secured a series win over the Brewers and now have what should be an easy matchup at home against the Rockies who might end the 2025 season with the worst record in history.

However, truly getting back on track is probably going to mean some changes to this Atlanta roster and soon.

For the most part, the Braves aren’t going to be able to make wholesale changes this late in the game.

They have a number of players under contract for a long-time and honestly, finding replacements that you actually want other than the top trade targets for everyone is going to be tough. However, there are still a few spots where change just needs to happen.

Here are the Braves players that the team needs to shed by the end of June

For those wondering, we did not comb the entire 40-man roster for potential DFA candidates nor will this list include possible trade candidates on expiring deals like Marcell Ozuna or Raisel Iglesias.

This isn’t a list of the guys that could get moved or fringe 40-man players that no one cares about.

These are active roster players that the Braves need to shed before they cost them anymore.

Alex Verdugo

Verdugo has had a couple really good moments after the Braves called him up, but they have been few and far between lately.

Verdugo played in 25 games in May and rewarded Atlanta with a .547 OPS and he only has three hits in the month of June.

Jurickson Profar is going to return in a couple weeks assuming he doesn’t need a minor league tune-up. Once that happens, Verdugo needs to be shown the door as he is just occupying space that could go to a true role-player.

Rafael Montero

Our disdain for Montero has been well-documented. Montero made 10 appearances last month with a passable 4.00 ERA, but his appearances remained an unnecessary adventure thanks largely to walks.

Montero also gave up three earned runs during what was one of the worst series losses you are likely to see as a Braves fan earlier this month against Arizona.

Other than being owed a bit of money, there is just little justification to keep Montero. Go find a passable righty reliever in the clearance aisle or make a play for one of the better bullpen arms on the trade market that can help late in games. At this point, Montero cannot be trusted.

Nick Allen

Allen has been really good defensively at shortstop after the Braves moved on from Orlando Arcia and, by the numbers, has been one of the better shortstops defensively in baseball period. That has real value, but that is also what makes him so frustrating.

Despite all of that defensive excellence, Allen has only been worth 0.6 rWAR this season because he swings a toothpick.

One can put up with a guy being a below average hitter if they can defend like Allen does, but a .578 OPS and 65 OPS+ is more than can be realistically stomached. The Braves need a shortstop that can provide something at the plate and Allen just isn’t it.