A new rumor offers an interesting option for the Atlanta Braves to fill their current need at the designated hitter position.
The 2026 MLB season is finally underway, and there are high expectations for the Braves. They have a good starting rotation despite injuries to a pair of their key young players, legitimate closer Robert Suárez, and a solid lineup led by the face of the franchise, Ronald Acuña, Jr.
However, that lineup suffered a notable blow before the season started when Jurickson Profar tested positive for a banned substance and could miss the entire season, serving his second suspension in two years. This put the Braves in a difficult position.
They would like to add more strength to the lineup, but they are still considering the idea of adding a veteran player to the rotation to compensate for injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep. However, if they choose to spend on replacing the Proffer, an unexpected but interesting option appears to be available.
On Wednesday, MLB insider Mike Rodriguez reported that “MLB teams are actively evaluating the return of Franmil Reyes on a deal worth $30-40 million playing 3-4 years.” Reyes is a six-year MLB veteran who has played for four different teams. He has not played in the big leagues since 2023.
Japanese makeover of Franmil Reyes
However, he has become a star in the Japanese Pacific League while playing for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. In 2024, he slugged 29 homers and 74 RBI. Last year, he continued his big hitting with 32 home runs, 90 RBI and 62 runs batted in.
During his years in MLB, he often displayed his power and posted 30 homers for the Cleveland Guardians in 2021. However, his ability to get on base outside of HR declined massively, which is why the Dominican dropped out of the league three years ago. However, he had a nice .277/.347/.515/.861 slash line for the Fighters last season.
The fact that he was able to earn a $10 million per season deal after spending the last two years out of the league shows that scouts have confidence in what he did in Japan. He could be an interesting option for the Braves if they are among the teams that have inquired about his availability.
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