Braves fans, we’ve all seen enough. We’ve all lived the Nick Allen experience in 2025, and yeah, the defense is as advertised. Gold Glove-caliber. Game-saving. Highlight-reel worthy. That 99th percentile in Outs Above Average is great. But the bat? It’s been a black hole in the lineup. A .540 OPS is the baseball equivalent of a polite shrug. You appreciate the effort, but you’re moving on.
And it looks like the Atlanta Braves might finally be doing just that.
A Quiet Shift in the Lineup
Over the past week, Allen’s seat has gotten noticeably colder. He’s started just four of the last seven games. The other three? Vidal Bruján’s name has been on the lineup card. Now, let’s not kid ourselves — Bruján isn’t the long-term solution either. His bat isn’t exactly screaming MVP votes.
But what is encouraging is the fact that Atlanta’s front office seems willing to acknowledge that the Allen experiment might not make it out of spring training next year. That’s a big shift, and it’s coming at just the right time.
Shortstop Can’t Be a Black Hole in 2026
Here’s the deal: the 2026 lineup already has a few question marks. Add in a sub-.600 OPS at shortstop and suddenly the offense goes from “we can win with this” to “please don’t make me watch this.”
The Braves can’t afford to gamble on that again. And given how often Atlanta gets labeled as a pitching-first organization, the team needs offensive production from as many lineup spots as possible — especially one as crucial as shortstop.
Bo Bichette or Bust For the Braves?
The name Bo Bichette keeps floating around, and for good reason. He’s young, proven, and a true difference-maker. The fit? Obvious. The price tag? That’s another story.
That’s where it gets tricky. Bichette might get paid like a superstar, and while the Braves can spend, they’ve been pretty careful not to go overboard under Alex Anthopoulos.
But that can’t be the end of the story. If Bichette signs elsewhere, fine. What Anthopoulos can’t do is fold his cards and run it back with Allen or Bruján.
There are other ways to go: creative trades, prospect swaps, a classic under-the-radar AA special. Maybe a post-hype breakout candidate who needs a change of scenery. The options aren’t endless, but they are out there.
One way or another, shortstop has to be addressed. The Allen era is nearing its final chapter. And if these recent lineup decisions are any indication, the Braves brass knows it, too.
