Braves Secure Raisel Iglesias and Acquire Mauricio Dubón
The Braves have made important moves this offseason, securing the continuity of their closer, Raisel Iglesias, and adding Mauricio Dubón to their ranks. The team announced Iglesias’s renewal with a one-year contract for 16 million dollars. The 35-year-old right-handed pitcher had completed a previous four-year contract for 58 million dollars. Additionally, the Braves have acquired Mauricio Dubón, a two-time Gold Glove winner, from the Houston Astros, in exchange for Nick Allen. Dubón, 31, played in 133 games with Houston last season, batting .241 and earning his second Gold Glove as a utility infielder. He also won the award in 2023. Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos commented that Dubón can play multiple positions, both in the infield and outfield, and that his role will be defined according to the moves the team makes this offseason. Anthopoulos mentioned that the Braves could be looking for a shortstop.Iglesias, who turned 35, became a free agent after a season of ups and downs. Although his earned run average (ERA) rose to 3.21, he had a solid season finish. After starting with a 4.42 ERA in the first 39 games, he recorded a 1.76 ERA in the second half and converted his last 18 save opportunities after July 28. This was the longest streak without a blown save to close out the season in the Major Leagues. Iglesias finished with 29 saves in 34 opportunities.I told him that I still don’t know what his role will be, but the fact that we have the flexibility to use him everywhere… is a good piece.
Alex Anthopoulos
An important change for Iglesias in 2025 was the decrease in the use of his slider and change in velocity, going from 52% of pitches in 2024 to 38% in 2025. Both pitches were notably less effective, according to Baseball Savant’s run value, which assigns a run value to each pitch based on its result. Collectively, they went from adding 13 runs in 2024 to subtracting 10 runs in 2025. Since 2017, when Iglesias became a full-time closer, he is third in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) among relievers (11.8), behind only Edwin Díaz and Josh Hader. Iglesias ranks second in saves (247), surpassed only by Kenley Jansen. Iglesias spent the first six seasons of his professional career with the Cincinnati Reds, who signed him in June 2014 as an international free agent. He debuted in 2015 and excelled with the Reds before moving to the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, where he received a four-year, $58 million contract and finished 11th in the American League Cy Young Award voting. The Angels sent Iglesias to the Braves at the 2022 trade deadline. In parts of four seasons as a closer, he accumulated 97 saves, a 15-12 record, and a 2.35 ERA.We knew we needed to address the closer position one way or another, and what better than with someone we know. He wanted to be here. His first choice was to return to Atlanta. I’m glad we were able to make it happen.
Alex Anthopoulos
