It wasn’t supposed to end like this for the Atlanta Braves, not after seven consecutive playoff berths, not after a 2021 World Series title that felt like the spark of a new dynasty. A 76-86 record and a lifeless finish. A pitching staff that couldn’t hold leads, let alone expectations. And now, a fanbase waiting for something big, anything, to signal that next season won’t be more of the same.
Iglesias Returns to the Braves After a Quiet, Calculated Bounce Back
So far, that signal hasn’t arrived in the form of a splashy trade or marquee free-agent signing. But there has been one move, subtle yet significant: the return of closer Raisel Iglesias on a one-year, $16 million deal.
Iglesias, now 35, was one of the few bright spots on a team that, for much of the season, looked adrift. His year wasn’t perfect, a rocky start had his ERA sitting at 6.75 as late as June, but what followed was a resurgence that reminded the league just how dangerous he can be in the ninth. Over his final 45 appearances, Iglesias posted a 2.25 ERA, slamming the door shut with the kind of cold-blooded efficiency you want in a closer.
A Veteran Closer with Age-Proof Stuff
That’s why analysts like Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer aren’t just applauding the move, they’re grading it as one of the smarter decisions of the offseason so far. Iglesias still touches the mid-90s with his fastball, but he’s evolved, relying less on raw heat and more on deception, command, and pitch sequencing. It’s the kind of transformation that makes a closer age-proof, or at least close to it.
For the Braves, this isn’t a franchise-altering move. It won’t erase the bitter taste of missing October. But it is a start. It’s a commitment to stability at the back end of the bullpen, something the Braves couldn’t count on last year. More importantly, it’s a low-risk, high-upside contract that preserves financial flexibility for bigger moves to come.
The First Domino in What Must Be a Bigger Offseason
The road back to contention starts with correcting mistakes and building reliable foundations. Re-signing Iglesias checks both boxes. Now, Atlanta must decide whether it will coast quietly through the offseason or wake up and make the bold decisions necessary to rejoin the NL elite.
