It was not long ago when the idea of the Atlanta Braves moving on from Ozzie Albies was considered unthinkable. Albies’ contract was arguably the most team-friendly deal in all of baseball and he was consistently among the best second basemen in the league. Unfortunately, the last couple of years have been decidedly unkind to Albies and have created the very real possibility that the Braves could look to replace him this coming offseason.
Through 125 games, Albies has only managed a .226/.299/.327 line as his power has cratered and his ability to impact games with his legs and glove has all but left him. After a series of injuries that robbed him of his explosiveness and cost him precious playing time the last few seasons, it truly feels like Albies’ permanent decline could be happening right in front of our eyes. Regardles of the Braves’ ultimate decision, that is a deeply sad idea if it proves to be true.
As of now, the odds that the Braves exercise his cheap team option remain extremely high, but there is also a very real chance that Atlanta could opt to trade him this coming offseason after picking up his option. Assuming a world where they do that, the Braves should absolutely consider targeting pending free agent Gleyber Torres.
Gleyber Torres might be the Braves’ ideal replacement for Ozzie Albies if they move on
This isn’t advocating for the Braves to replace Albies. At $7 million next year on his option with a $4 million buyout, Albies is dirt cheap and it is still appealing to try to see if he can rebound at that price point while spending elsewhere on the roster. However, Torres has a lot going for him if Atlanta decides to make a change.
After somewhat surprisingly taking a one-year deal from the Tigers last offseason, Torres has done extremely well to rebuild his value after a bit of a rollercoaster tenure with the Yankees. In almost 500 plate appearances this season, Torres has posted a .757 OPS with very encouraging batted ball characteristics that suggest more production could come even if he isn’t ever going to be the slugging threat some thought he would end up being.
While Torres’ defense is mediocre at best and his bat speed is mildly concerning, he would almost certainly be an offensive upgrade over Albies and a wash defensively.
Moreover, Torres’ numbers have not been so loud that he will be out of the Braves’ price range. Atlanta shouldn’t full commit to him on a long-term deal, but a two-year deal with some sort of option for a third year could make a lot of sense if Albies is playing elsewhere in 2026.
