Braves Urged to Bench $58 Million Reliever Iglesias Amid Bullpen Struggles

The Atlanta Braves are facing mounting pressure to make changes amid a challenging 2025 season, as bullpen struggles and offensive inconsistencies threaten their playoff hopes. Raisel Iglesias, once the team's primary closer, has seen his velocity drop and his effectiveness plummet, prompting analysts like Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller to urge that he be moved to low-leverage situations rather than trusted in critical moments, though releasing him is unlikely due to his $16 million salary. Meanwhile, Nick Allen's elite defense at shortstop is being overshadowed by his poor offensive production, leading to calls for his benching, especially with top prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. nearing a potential promotion. In the outfield, Eli White is losing playing time to Alex Verdugo, and both may see further reductions when Jurickson Profar returns from suspension. The Braves' struggles mirror those of the Washington Nationals, who are enduring a nine-game losing streak and facing criticism for underperforming players like catcher Keibert Ruiz, raising the possibility of further benchings as both teams seek to spark a turnaround. These personnel decisions highlight the difficult balance teams must strike between performance, contract commitments, and the readiness of prospects to step up.