Braves Roster Shake-Up: Options Exercised and Four Pitchers Reinstated From IL
Immediately following the conclusion of the 2026 World Series, the Atlanta Braves announced a series of roster moves that shape the organization’s immediate future. As reported by Heavy Sports, the front office exercised contract options for outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and infielder Ozzie Albies for the 2027 season, while also addressing a significant group of players returning from the 60-day injured list.
The transactions bring clarity to several key roster spots as the franchise transitions into the offseason. Alongside the decisions on Acuña Jr. and Albies, the Braves reinstated right-handed pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, and Hurston Waldrep, as well as left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz, from the 60-day injured list.
The Status of Returning Arms
Reinstatement from the 60-day injured list is standard procedural protocol at the conclusion of a major league season, but it does not guarantee immediate health or readiness for the upcoming campaign. Each of the four pitchers returning to the active ledger carries a distinct physical history from the recent past.
The #Braves today exercised options for OF Ronald Acuña Jr. and INF Ozzie Albies for the 2027 season. Atlanta also reinstated RHPs Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep, as well as LHP Joey Wentz, from the 60-day injured list.
Spencer Schwellenbach did not log a single inning during the 2026 season due to lingering elbow issues. Similarly, Joey Wentz missed all of 2026 with the Braves, following a 2025 campaign where he made 13 starts, pitched 64 innings, and posted a 4.92 ERA.
Spencer Strider logged approximately 40 innings in 2026 before an arm injury in June ended his season prematurely. Once established as one of the most dominant starting pitchers in Major League Baseball, Strider has seen a series of arm injuries disrupt his career trajectory, casting uncertainty on his future role in Atlanta’s rotation.
Hurston Waldrep, viewed as a promising young arm within the organization following a productive 2025 campaign, struggled to find consistency on the mound in 2026. His season was further interrupted by an injury that sidelined him through August and September.
Free Agency Decisions
The roster announcements also addressed players who have officially entered the open market. The organization noted that Raisel Iglesias, Ha-Seong Kim, Mauricio Dubon, and Tyler Mahle have become free agents as the 2026 baseball calendar officially turns toward the hot stove league.
