As baseball fans, we get attached to players that have played roles during important times for our fandoms. For Atlanta Braves fans, it explains why it was so hard to watch Freddie Freeman, Dansby Swanson, and Max Fried leave. Hell, Tyler Matzek may never have to pay for drinks again in Atlanta despite leaving the organization in 2024. For another Braves fan favorite, the upcoming Winter Meetings may be one last final test to see if he can prolong what has been a tremendous player-team partnership.

If you ask any Braves fan, they will tell you they love Ozzie Albies. Once a top ranked prospect, Albies has become a fixture in Atlanta’s lineup and played a massive role in the Braves’ run of division titles. Where you will start getting different answers is when you ask if the Braves should move on from Albies.

Unfortunately, a series of injuries have called Albies’ future with the Braves into question. Given all of the Braves’ needs this offseason, we could see a big trade go down at the Winter Meetings. If that happens, don’t be surprised if Albies’ name is involved…as painful as that would be.

Ozzie Albies’ getting traded would feel like the end of an era for the Braves

Now obviously there are trades that would make the Braves worse than trading Albies. Giving up on Ronald Acuña Jr. right now seems like a terrible idea and Atlanta’s rotation would be in a lot of trouble if they traded Chris Sale. However, Albies’ departing during the Winter Meetings is both possible and would be a gut punch to a lot of fans who have watched Albies grow up on the Braves.

The Braves exercised Albies’ option for 2026 because it was so cheap, but their intentions for their infield remain unclear after trading for Mauricio Dubon and their search for a shortstop continues. Putting Dubon at short and keeping Albies at second may be the betting favorite of the options, but Atlanta could opt to add another shortstop (possibly with Albies in the trade package for them) and then play Dubon at second where his bat may fit better.

Assuming Albies struggles again in 2026, Atlanta would almost certainly let him walk after the season. However, Albies still has value right now and there are offseason plans that would be best served by trading Albies and shuffling the infield around. It would certainly suck to see Albies go and it might be the last straw for a lot of Braves fans, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t happen anyways.

This article was originally published on housethathankbuilt.com as The most painful trade the Braves could actually make at the Winter Meetings.