The Atlanta Braves have re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million contract for the 2026 season. The deal was announced on Wednesday, November 20, 2025. Iglesias, entering his age-36 season, had a strong finish to his 2025 campaign with the team.
The Atlanta Braves announced on Wednesday, November 20, 2025, that they are bringing back closer Raisel Iglesias on a one-year, $16 million contract for the 2026 season. Iglesias, who will turn 36 during the upcoming year, remains a key asset in the bullpen despite a challenging start to 2025.
In the 2025 season with the Braves, Iglesias recorded 29 saves, tying for the ninth-most in Major League Baseball. He led the National League with 57 games finished, posting a 3.21 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 67 1/3 innings. However, his year was split into two distinct phases. Through his first 28 appearances, Iglesias struggled with a 6.00 ERA, hampered by poor command of his slider—a pitch that had been a strength in prior years. This led to four blown saves, five losses, and five home runs allowed on the slider, compared to just one in all of 2024.
From June 18 onward, Iglesias turned things around dramatically, achieving a 1.34 ERA with 21 saves over the final three months. He earned National League Reliever of the Month honors for August after allowing just one run that month. In fact, over his final 27 appearances, he permitted only that single run, resulting in a 0.34 ERA. His success stemmed from limiting hard contact and inducing chases outside the zone, with a 32.7 percent chase rate in the 90th percentile of MLB.
Iglesias' arsenal remains effective, featuring a sinker averaging just below 95 mph, paired with a changeup (41 percent whiff rate) and slider (34 percent whiff rate). This contributed to a 34.9 percent hard-hit rate, with opponents batting .206 against him overall and .139 after June 17. On September 16, 2025, he notched his 250th career save against the Washington Nationals, joining just 40 pitchers to reach that milestone since saves became official in 1969.