3 burning questions for the Atlanta Braves to answer in the offseason
By Kevin Henry
After storming back to win the NL East, the Atlanta Braves took an earlier-than-expected postseason exit, kicking a slew of offseason questions into motion.
The Atlanta Braves head into an interesting offseason filled with decisions on key positions. While Atlanta has locked up a number of core players for the near future, there are still positions where the Braves will have some tough choices to make in the upcoming weeks.
Burning questions for Braves offseason: 3. Who will be the closer?
Despite some rough patches during the season, Kenley Jansen led the National League with 41 saves in 2022. Signing a one-year, $16 million deal for last season, Jansen made his first season in an Atlanta uniform an impactful one.
The question now is whether the Braves will bring Jansen back or choose to go another direction at the closer position. A Jansen reunion with the Los Angeles Dodgers certainly isn’t out of the question, but Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos has already said it would be “phenomenal” to have Jansen back in Atlanta in 2023.
However, the Braves have a very capable Plan B should Jansen not come back in Raisel Iglesias, who was the closer for the Los Angeles Angels before Atlanta made a trade deadline deal in August to acquire him. Iglesias is under contract through the 2025 campaign and has 157 saves in his eight-year MLB career.
There are other questions inside the Braves bullpen as well (Will Jesse Chavez be brought back? How will the Braves make up for the loss of Tyler Matzek due to Tommy John surgery?), but the biggest one comes at the closer position.