This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
ATLANTA — The place will Max Fried land? Is there a higher want for a beginning pitcher or an outfielder? Is it higher to bolster the roster through trades or free company? How about each? These are simply among the questions the Braves will face this offseason.
This is a have a look at some key choices:
Who’re the Braves’ free brokers?Groups have unique negotiating rights with their free brokers by means of the primary 5 days following the World Sequence’ conclusion.
LHP Max Fried, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Jesse Chavez, INF Whit Merrifield, INF Gio Urshela, LHP A.J. Minter, OF Adam Duvall and RHP John Brebbia
The Braves made a robust bid for Aaron Nola earlier than he signed a seven-year, $172 million deal to stay with the Phillies final November, so that they have proven a willingness to offer a long-term, profitable deal to a top-flight pitcher north of his thirtieth birthday. However even earlier than Chris Sale and Reynaldo López solidified the rotation this yr, the belief was that Fried will find yourself signing elsewhere.
There was additionally an assumption that Morton would retire, however the hurler, who will flip 41 on Nov. 12, is leaning towards pitching no less than another season. Atlanta wants some insurance coverage for Spencer Strider, who’s coming back from proper elbow ligament surgical procedure, and the again finish of its rotation. Morton could possibly be an possibility with a one-year deal value $10-15 million.
Re-signing Minter to a one- or two-year deal additionally is smart. Sticking with the one group the left-hander has ever recognized may give him consolation as he returns from the left hip surgical procedure he underwent in August.
Merrifield appears to be the one different member of this group who may return, however the Braves wouldn’t want him as a backup infielder in the event that they purchase a beginning shortstop and transfer Orlando Arcia to the bench.
Who has a contract possibility?Groups have up till 5 days after the World Sequence to determine which contract choices will likely be exercised and whether or not any of their free brokers will obtain a qualifying provide.
Marcell Ozuna’s $16 million possibility has change into a cut price as he has been one of many recreation’s elite offensive producers over the previous two seasons.
Two days after the common season concluded, Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos mentioned the entire Braves with contract choices had put themselves able to return. This was the identical day he mentioned the teaching workers would keep intact. Hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, assistant hitting coach Bobby Magallanes and catching coach Sal Fasano had been relieved of their duties six days later.
So, whereas Travis d’Arnaud’s $8 million possibility will doubtless be exercised, there’s actually no cause to assume Luke Jackson positioned himself for his $7 million choice to be exercised. The most important query is whether or not the Braves will train left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer’s $7.25 million possibility after he posted a 3.58 ERA over 56 appearances this season.
What about qualifying gives?A qualifying provide have to be prolonged to obtain compensation for dropping a participant to free company.
The one Braves’ candidate is Fried, who would more than likely decline this yr’s provide (one-year, $21.05 million) by the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Nov. 19.
Which Braves gamers are eligible for arbitration?INF Cavan Biggio, OF Ramon Laureano, OF Jarred Kelenic, OF Eli White, LHP Dylan Lee, RHP Huascar Ynoa and RHP Griffin Canning
Atlanta spent roughly $17 million final winter to achieve management of Kelenic for 5 seasons, and the membership will proceed to hope he realizes his potential. Within the meantime, the Braves should determine what to do in left area. Laureano grew to become their major left fielder final season. Is it value bringing him again with a slight elevate to the $5.15 million wage he gained earlier than the Guardians launched him in Might?
What are the Braves’ wants?With uncertainty about when Strider is likely to be prepared, Atlanta will nearly actually add a beginning pitcher. The goal would doubtless be to achieve a short-term cope with Morton or one other confirmed starter keen to take a short-term deal.
With Strider, Sale, López and Spencer Schwellenbach, the Braves have the bottom for a robust rotation. Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep present choices for the fifth spot. Nonetheless, you possibly can by no means have sufficient pitching, particularly while you’re a group that has needed to scrape to discover a beginning pitcher for no less than one recreation throughout every of the previous three postseasons.
Ronald Acuña Jr. will return from his newest main knee surgical procedure inside the first couple months of the 2025 season. He and Michael Harris II present the bottom for a robust outfield trio. However can you actually rely upon Laureano and Kelenic to function left fielders subsequent yr?
Discovering one other outfielder won’t be a necessity, however it ought to actually be a need, particularly now that they gained monetary flexibility by shifting the $13 million wage Soler was owed for every of the following two seasons.
Different key offseason datesNov. 4-7: GM Conferences in San Antonio, Texas
Dec. Sept. 11: Winter Conferences in Dallas, together with the MLB Draft lottery (Dec. 10) and the Rule 5 Draft (Dec. 11)
Jan. 10, 2025: Eligible gamers and their groups change arbitration figures
