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Braves Secure Raisel Iglesias on one-Year, $16 Million Deal
A key piece of their late-inning strategy returns to Atlanta, as the Braves have re-signed free agent closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year contract worth $16 million. The move, somewhat unexpected given earlier team priorities, ensures Iglesias will be back for a fifth season with the club at his 2025 salary.
The signing came as a surprise to many, as team officials had previously indicated a greater focus on bolstering the shortstop position and upgrading the starting rotation. According to reports, the Los Angeles Dodgers also offered Iglesias a $16 million deal, but he ultimately chose to return to Atlanta. The Toronto Blue Jays were also briefly linked to the reliever during free agency.
Iglesias has proven to be a reliable force, posting a 2.35 earned run average across 218 innings. He currently ranks fourth in Major League Baseball with 113 saves since that time, consistently delivering as one of the league’s moast dependable closers with a sub-3.00 ERA each season from 2020-2024.
Iglesias’ 2025 season experienced a notable split in performance. A arduous start saw him surrender five home runs in April alone, culminating in a 5.91 ERA through the first two months. However, a dramatic turnaround occurred in June, transforming him into one of the league’s most effective late-game arms. Over the final four months of the season, he pitched 46 innings with a 1.96 ERA, striking out 29.3% of opposing batters. Remarkably, he allowed just one home run during this stretch despite a high 54.5% fly-ball rate.
Analysts acknowledge that Iglesias’ performance will likely fall somewhere between these extremes. It’s improbable he’ll continue to allow home runs at the early-season rate, nor will he sustain the exceptionally low home run-to-fly ball ratio he achieved later in the year. Still, his strong strikeout (27.4%) and walk (6%) rates remain encouraging. He finished the year with a 3.21 ERA and 29 saves in 34 opportunities,narrowly missing his sixth career 30-save season.
MLBTR previously ranked Iglesias as the #32 overall free agent and the #5 reliever available, projecting a two-year, $26 million contract.While he didn’t secure the multi-year deal, the braves were reportedly one of at least two teams to offer a ample one-year contract. Sources indicate the Los Angeles Dodgers also presented a $16 million offer, but Iglesias ultimately chose to return to Atlanta. The Toronto Blue Jays were also linked to Iglesias during a brief period of free agency.
The market for late-inning relievers remains active, with several prominent names still available. Edwin Díaz is expected to command the largest contract despite rejecting a qualifying offer from the Mets, while Devin Williams, Robert Suarez, ryan helsley, Kyle Finnegan, Emilio Pagán, and Kenley Jansen are also drawing notable interest.
Iglesias’ return bolsters an Atlanta bullpen that still requires further strengthening. The team will welcome back Joe Jiménez after he missed the entire 2025 season due to knee surgery, and Dylan Lee provides a valuable left-handed option. Though, with the departures of right-handed setup men Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley, adding another reliable righty to pitch alongside Jiménez in high-leverage situations is a priority. These needs will be balanced against the ongoing search for starting pitching and a shortstop.
Currently, the Braves have 13 players under guaranteed contracts totaling $192.5 million for the upcoming season. Their arbitration class is relatively small,with non-tender candidates unlikely to add more than $4-8 million to the payroll. The team’s opening day payroll last season was approximately $208 million, and addressing the rotation and shortstop positions – particularly if they re-sign Ha-seong Kim – will likely require exceeding that figure. RosterResource currently projects the team’s luxury tax commitments at roughly $208 million, well below the $244 million base threshold. The Braves reportedly remained under the competitive balance tax (CBT) line this year, having previously exceeded it in 2023 and 2024.
image courtesy of Dale Zanine, Imagn Images.
