Jeff Passan Issues Red Alert as Braves Enter Dangerous Territory
When Jeff Passan sounds the alarm, the baseball world listens. And this time, his message is crystal clear: the Atlanta Braves could be on the verge of a bullpen-fueled collapse that threatens to derail their entire season. At the center of the storm is what Passan is calling the “Closer’s Curse” — a troubling pattern that’s left fans anxious and the front office scrambling for answers.
A Bullpen Built to Dominate Is Suddenly Cracking
The Braves entered the 2025 season with one of the most feared bullpens in Major League Baseball. Anchored by flamethrowers and veteran arms, the pen was supposed to be the team’s safety net — the lock that closed games and kept leads safe. But recently, that strength has turned into a glaring liability.
Multiple blown saves, late-inning meltdowns, and a rising ERA among top relievers have ignited panic across Braves Nation. And while injuries are partly to blame, sources say the problems run deeper — and darker — than the public realizes.
The ‘Closer’s Curse’ Haunting Atlanta
Insiders now whisper about what some are calling the “Closer’s Curse” — the Braves’ seemingly endless cycle of bullpen dominance followed by sudden and dramatic regression. Whether it’s fatigue, overuse, or simple bad luck, Atlanta has seen star closers fall off a cliff at the worst possible times.
This season, it’s no longer just a theory. The current closer, once dominant, has lost command, velocity, and most alarmingly — the trust of his teammates.
Passan’s report didn’t name names, but league sources suggest tension is growing between the coaching staff and the bullpen core. There are even rumors that the pitching coach and front office are at odds over how the pen is being managed game to game.
Internal Leak Reveals Contingency Plan in Motion
According to a high-level leak from within the Braves organization, a two-pronged emergency plan is already in place. If the bullpen continues to falter through May, the front office will activate one of two backup options:
- An Internal Shift: Promoting a high-performing setup man or prospect from Triple-A to take over closer duties, reworking the bullpen hierarchy from within.
- A Blockbuster Trade Deadline Move: The leak hints that the Braves have already begun scouting elite closers across the league, with a focus on teams likely to be sellers by July. Names like Ryan Helsley, Emmanuel Clase, and even a surprise National League veteran have reportedly been discussed.
What Jeff Passan Thinks Comes Next
In his breaking report, Passan described the Braves’ bullpen issue as “a silent crisis with explosive potential.” He noted that the front office is walking a fine line between patience and panic — and that the next few weeks could define Atlanta’s entire 2025 campaign.
“The Braves are too talented to let a bullpen collapse ruin their season,” Passan said. “But if they don’t act quickly and decisively, that’s exactly what might happen.”
Fans Are Watching and Waiting
On social media, the #BravesCollapse tag has begun trending, and fan confidence is clearly wavering. While many still trust GM Alex Anthopoulos to right the ship, others are calling for immediate changes — before it’s too late.
Atlanta’s once-comfortable lead in the NL East is shrinking, and every ninth inning is now a white-knuckle affair. The team that once felt invincible is now showing cracks. The question haunting Braves fans and players alike: will the front office fix the leak before the ship sinks?
