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ESPN News Services
Nov 19, 2025, 08:17 PM ET
ATLANTA — The Braves have addressed one of their offseason priorities by re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million contract.
Atlanta announced the deal Wednesday.
Iglesias, a 35-year-old right-hander, had completed a four-year, $58 million contract that paid him $16 million in each of the past three seasons.
The Braves also acquired two-time Gold Glove winner Mauricio Dubon from the Houston Astros for Nick Allen in an exchange of infielders.
Dubon, 31, appeared in 133 games with Houston last season and batted .241 while earning his second Gold Glove, each time as a utility infielder. He also won the award in 2023.
Dubon had a $5 million salary this year, and he is eligible for salary arbitration. He can become a free agent after the 2026 World Series.
Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Dubon can play all over the infield and outfield, and that his role will be determined by what other moves the team makes this offseason. Anthopoulos said the Braves still might pursue a shortstop.
«I told him I don’t know what your role is going to be yet, but the fact that we have the flexibility to play him all over … he’s just a good piece,» Anthopoulos said of Dubon.
Allen, 27, is eligible for arbitration for the first time and can become a free agent after the 2029 season.
Iglesias, 35, hit free agency after a slightly down season for the Braves in which his ERA rose to 3.21 after posting a 1.95 ERA in 2024. But he finished strong following an uneven start. After posting a 4.42 ERA in 39 games in the first half, he recorded a 1.76 ERA in the second half and was successful on his final 18 save opportunities after July 28.
It was the longest streak without a blown save to close the season in the majors. Iglesias finished with 29 saves in 34 chances.
«We knew we needed to address closer one way or the other and who better than somebody we know,» Anthopoulos said. «He wanted to be here. His first choice was to be back in Atlanta. I’m glad we were able to get it done.»
A major aspect that changed in 2025 for Iglesias was less reliance on his slider and his changeup, going from 52% of pitches he threw in 2024 to 38% in 2025. Both pitches were notably less effective by Baseball Savant’s run value number, which puts a run value on every occurrence of throwing a pitch based on its outcome, collectively going from plus-13 runs in 2024 to minus-10 runs in 2025.
Since 2017, when Iglesias became a full-time closer, he is third in baseball in reliever WAR (11.8), behind only Edwin Diaz and Josh Hader. Iglesias is second in saves (247), behind Kenley Jansen.
Iglesias spent the first six seasons of his pro career with the Cincinnati Reds, who signed the Cuban-born pitcher in June 2014 as an international free agent. He made his pro debut in 2015 and starred for the Reds before leaving in free agency for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he received a four-year, $58 million deal and finished 11th in American League Cy Young Award voting.
The Angels sent Iglesias to the Braves at the 2022 trade deadline. Over parts of four seasons as the closer, he posted 97 saves, a 15-12 record and a 2.35 ERA.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
