Braves Shortstop Options for 2027 | The Decision Room

Who’s Playing Short in Atlanta?

The Decision Room | 2026–27 Offseason | Atlanta Braves

The Dilemma: 94 Wins. A 68 OPS+ at Shortstop. Another October Disappointment.

The Atlanta Braves won 94 games in 2026.

Their shortstops combined for a 68 OPS+.

And October ended in disappointment. Again.

How does a team this talented keep entering the postseason with such an obvious weakness?

This is a lineup featuring Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and Drake Baldwin. A team that should be going toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Dodgers every October, not entering the postseason feeling like it’s already beaten.

Winning 94 games while getting offensive production 32% below league average from shortstop should tell Alex Anthopoulos something.

The Braves are good enough to win without an answer at shortstop.

But are they good enough to win it all?

Atlanta doesn’t necessarily need another superstar. Give me a shortstop who hits .250, provides 10–15 home runs, and plays excellent defense, and I’m thrilled.

But after years of temporary solutions, it’s time to find someone who can actually own the position. This championship window is open right now, and another offseason of patching holes and hoping for the best isn’t good enough.

Six candidates. Six different price tags. One position Atlanta can’t afford to get wrong.

Welcome to The Decision Room.

The Candidates

Free-Agent Options

1. MAURICIO DUBÓN

The Right Player at the Wrong Price?

2026: .276 AVG | .321 OBP | .399 SLG | .720 OPS | 12 HR | 73 RBI | 10 SB

2027 Projected Contract: 2 years, $20M — FanGraphs

Mauricio Dubón was part of a Braves team that won 94 games, and he showed exactly why Atlanta should want him back.

He’s a gamer. He brings versatility, plays hard, and gives Alex Anthopoulos a legitimate everyday option at shortstop without needing to be one of the lineup’s stars.

But bringing Dubón back means betting that what Atlanta saw in 2026 wasn’t simply a career year at age 32.

His struggles against four-seam fastballs and changeups concern me, especially when thinking about the pitching Atlanta will face in October. And while I trust his ability to handle shortstop, I’d still want to know how his defense holds up with everyday responsibility.

FanGraphs projects two years and $20 million. I’d make that deal, and I’m comfortable going as high as $12 million annually.

Dubón has already shown he belongs on this team. The question is whether Atlanta can retain him at a price that makes sense without mistaking a career year for his new baseline.

THE TAKEAWAY: Bring Dubón back at the right price. Just don’t pay for a career year expecting another one.

2. J.P. CRAWFORD

Please Tell Me There’s Another Option.

2026: .221 AVG | .335 OBP | .352 SLG | .687 OPS | 14 HR | 40 RBI | 1 SB

2027 Contract: Free agent

J.P. Crawford is a good veteran. He’s the kind of player who can stabilize a clubhouse, provide leadership, and bring experience to a team with championship aspirations.

But Atlanta isn’t looking for someone to stabilize its clubhouse.

It needs a shortstop who can start in October.

Crawford still draws walks and gets on base, but a .221 batting average, limited offensive impact, and declining defensive value aren’t exactly what I envision when discussing how the Braves close the gap on Los Angeles.

This isn’t about disrespecting Crawford. There’s a place in baseball for veterans who bring what he does.

But the Braves won 94 games with a glaring weakness at shortstop and still couldn’t get where they needed to go. Replacing that weakness with another question mark accomplishes very little.

If the free-agent market can’t deliver the right player, Anthopoulos needs to explore the trade market. Even if it costs more.

And if Crawford is Atlanta’s big shortstop acquisition?

I’m throwing the TV remote.

THE TAKEAWAY: Atlanta needs an October starter, not another temporary solution.

Trade Options

3. JEREMY PEÑA

The Perfect Fit. The Boras Problem.

2026: .277 AVG | .325 OBP | .477 SLG | .802 OPS | 22 HR | 56 RBI | 12 SB

2027 Contract: Final arbitration year | $13.1M projected

Jeremy Peña might be the most natural fit for what Atlanta needs.

He’s a legitimate everyday shortstop, a productive right-handed hitter, and someone who has already proven he can perform when the lights are brightest.

The 2022 ALCS MVP and World Series MVP knows what October baseball demands. For a Braves team that’s experienced more postseason frustration than celebration lately, that matters.

But his fit goes beyond the résumé.

Atlanta’s lineup leans heavily on the left-handed bats of Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and Drake Baldwin. Peña gives the Braves another dangerous right-handed hitter who can hold his own and make it harder for opposing managers to navigate those lefties.

His production against fastballs makes the fit even more appealing. Peña hit over .300 against every fastball classification in 2026. That’s the kind of hitter I want facing the elite velocity Atlanta will encounter in October.

Defensively, he’s still a legitimate shortstop. His range and athleticism give Atlanta something it has desperately needed: confidence that the position won’t become a liability when every out matters.

The complication is his contract.

Peña is entering his final year of team control, and Scott Boras isn’t exactly known for making extensions easy.

I’d absolutely explore an extension. But I’m not allowing that conversation to prevent Atlanta from acquiring a player who could help it win a championship in 2027.

The prospect cost has to reflect that uncertainty. I’m comfortable moving one or two recognizable prospects, but I’m protecting Atlanta’s premier talent. And while adding another starting pitcher remains a priority, I wouldn’t automatically pass on Peña if the pitching market proves difficult.

Peña checks nearly every box: right-handed production, reliable defense, and proven October experience.

THE TAKEAWAY: Peña is the kind of shortstop Atlanta needs. Don’t let extension uncertainty stop a championship move, but don’t pay a long-term price for one guaranteed season.

4. OTTO LOPEZ

The Pesky Otto.

2026: .305 AVG | .349 OBP | .437 SLG | .786 OPS | 11 HR | 34 SB | 191 H

2027 Contract: Arbitration 1 | $5.4M projected | Three years of team control

Otto Lopez is the kind of player you absolutely love having on your team.

And absolutely hate playing against.

He’s pesky. He rarely strikes out, puts the baseball in play, and turns routine innings into headaches for opposing pitchers. Then, once he reaches base, he becomes an entirely different problem.

The guy is a menace on the basepaths.

His 90.1% zone-contact rate and 19.5% whiff rate tell you everything about his approach. He’s not trying to launch every pitch into the seats. He’s trying to put pressure on the defense.

And good things happen when you put the ball in play.

Especially in October.

Against elite postseason pitching, you can’t count on stringing together home runs. Sometimes you need a hitter who can extend an inning, beat out a ground ball, steal a base, or force the defense into a mistake.

Lopez gives Atlanta all of that.

But I’m not expecting another .305 season.

His improvement against fastballs was enormous. He went from hitting .260 with a .294 slugging percentage against them in 2025 to .345 with a .510 slugging percentage in 2026.

That’s impressive, but his struggles against offspeed pitches suggest some regression is coming. If he settles around .270–.280, I’m perfectly comfortable with that.

Because Lopez brings more than his batting average.

I trust his defense at shortstop despite a below-average arm. His range, instincts, and ability to make plays give Atlanta the everyday stability it’s been missing. And his speed creates opportunities even when the offense isn’t clicking.

The challenge is acquiring him.

Miami has three years of control remaining, and trading a productive shortstop within the division won’t come cheaply. The Marlins would have every reason to demand premium prospects.

But at a projected $5.4 million in his first arbitration year, Lopez gives Atlanta an affordable everyday shortstop without preventing Anthopoulos from addressing the rotation.

I’d pay a premium, including a top prospect, for that combination of production, affordability, and control.

THE TAKEAWAY: He might not be the superstar who transforms Atlanta’s lineup, but give me the Pesky Otto in October. He’s the kind of complete player championship teams need.

5. CJ ABRAMS

The Hometown Home Run or an Expensive Gamble?

2026: .261 AVG | .336 OBP | .497 SLG | .833 OPS | 33 HR | 106 RBI | 34 SB

2027 Contract: Arbitration 2 | $10.2M projected | Two years of team control

Bringing CJ Abrams home to Atlanta would make for a great story.

The hometown kid returning after a 30/30 season? That’s the kind of move that gets fans excited. And Abrams deserves credit for what he accomplished in 2026.

But I’m not buying the fit.

Three of Atlanta’s four offensive leaders—Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and Drake Baldwin—are left-handed hitters who play every day. The Braves don’t need another left-handed bat nearly as much as they need someone who complements those players.

And more importantly, they need a shortstop.

I don’t believe Abrams is one.

His range and throwing accuracy remain significant concerns. He’s athletic enough to contribute somewhere on the diamond, but Atlanta shouldn’t surrender premium prospects for a player it may eventually need to move off shortstop.

Especially when Washington would be selling him as a 30/30 shortstop.

That’s the price the Nationals would want. But is that the player Atlanta would actually be getting?

Abrams posted a 10.6% barrel rate in 2026 and made a concerted effort to pull the baseball more frequently. The power improvement was impressive, but I’m not expecting another 33-home-run season. Something closer to 24–25 home runs feels more realistic.

That’s still a valuable offensive player with tremendous speed.

But at a projected $10.2 million in his second arbitration year, with just two seasons of control remaining, Atlanta would be paying a meaningful salary and surrendering significant prospects to a division rival.

All for a left-handed hitter whose defensive home remains a question.

THE TAKEAWAY: The Atlanta connection is appealing and the offensive upside is real. But the Braves need an October shortstop, not a hometown headline.

6. ELLY DE LA CRUZ

Hand Him the Keys.

2026: .283 AVG | .365 OBP | .515 SLG | .880 OPS | 30 HR | 79 RBI | 30 SB | 175 K

2027 Contract: Arbitration 1 | $7.9M projected | Three years of team control

If I’m Alex Anthopoulos, I’m willing to empty the farm system for Elly De La Cruz.

Might that be ill-advised?

Absolutely.

But we’re talking about a 25-year-old, switch-hitting superstar with three years of control who could instantly make Atlanta’s lineup arguably the best in baseball.

The Braves already have enough offense to beat anybody. Acuña, Olson, Harris, and Baldwin aren’t exactly struggling to put runs on the board.

Elly is the Death Star move.

The kind of acquisition that makes an already dangerous team feel unbeatable. And the kind that electrifies a fan base tired of disappointing Octobers.

His 175 strikeouts concern me, particularly against elite postseason pitching. But he’s still developing, and an .880 OPS with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases is a pretty remarkable foundation.

Defensively, he gives Atlanta the range, arm strength, and athleticism to turn shortstop from a weakness into a strength.

The cost? Enormous.

I’d surrender multiple top prospects, including premium pitching talent, even knowing Atlanta needs rotation depth and has questions surrounding Spencer Strider’s health.

But with Elly projected to earn just $7.9 million in his first arbitration year, the Braves could make that trade and still have financial flexibility to pursue another starting pitcher.

Cincinnati would have to be willing to listen. And there’s no guarantee it would.

But if that door opens, I’m pushing my chips in.

Elly doesn’t guarantee a World Series. Nobody does. But he’s the kind of franchise player who could change Atlanta’s next three Octobers.

THE TAKEAWAY: If Cincinnati opens the door, empty the farm and hand Elly the keys. Championship windows don’t stay open forever.

The Big League Take

Stop Renting Shortstops. Find Your Guy.

My first call is Cincinnati.

Elly De La Cruz is the dream. I’d empty the farm for a 25-year-old superstar who could make Atlanta’s lineup feel unbeatable. Three years of control, a switch-hitting bat, and the tools to turn shortstop into a strength? That’s worth exploring, even at an enormous prospect cost.

If Cincinnati isn’t listening, I’m turning to Miami about Otto Lopez. His contact, speed, defense, and affordable control make him an ideal fit for what Atlanta actually needs. Jeremy Peña is another strong option, especially with his right-handed bat and proven October experience, provided Houston’s asking price reflects his limited control.

And if the trade market doesn’t cooperate? Bring Dubón back at the right price. He isn’t the most exciting answer, but he’s a familiar one who can help Atlanta win.

The Braves won 94 games with a glaring hole at shortstop. They’ve already proven they can win plenty of regular-season games without fixing it.

Now it’s time to build a roster that can finish the job in October.

Stop renting shortstops. Find your guy.

Own Your Take

Would you empty the farm for Elly, pay the price for Otto Lopez, or take a different approach? Maybe you’re calling about Corey Seager, Willy Adames, or Zach Neto.

You’re running Atlanta’s front office. Who’s your shortstop, and what are you willing to give up?

Drop your decision in the comments and own your take.