The Braves have been comparatively quiet up to now within the winter, having performed little up to now past commerce Jorge Soler to the Angels at the beginning of the offseason. That’s created the impression of a membership being cautious about its payroll state of affairs this winter, once they stand vulnerable to surpassing the luxurious tax for a 3rd consecutive 12 months, which might include stiff tax penalties and trigger the first-round decide within the 2026 draft to maneuver again ten spots. Regardless of the membership’s gradual begin to the winter, nonetheless, Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos advised reporters (together with David O’Brien of The Athletic) that the membership is prepared to surpass the luxurious tax for a 3rd consecutive 12 months to handle the membership’s wants this winter.
In accordance with O’Brien, the membership’s preliminary plans for the offseason have been scuttled once they obtained worrisome medical updates relating to stars Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider in addition to reliever Joe Jimenez. Neither Acuna nor Strider is predicted to be prepared for Opening Day as issues stand, and O’Brien provides that each could possibly be out of motion “effectively into Might.” That information, together with the lack of Jimenez to knee surgical procedure for many or the entire 2025 marketing campaign, left the Braves to search for methods to liberate wage. Per O’Brien, the membership probably wouldn’t have restructured the contracts of Reynaldo Lopez and Aaron Bummer nor declined the membership choice of veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud had these accidents not put extra stress on the membership to pursue assist in the outfield, rotation, and bullpen.
Of these three areas of the roster, the outfield seems to be probably the most urgent for the membership to handle. O’Brien notes that the Braves could desire to be additional cautious with Acuna subsequent season within the aftermath of his second torn ACL in 4 seasons, significantly after he struggled (at the least relative to his personal elite requirements) in 2022 after returning to the lineup as quickly as doable. That’s led the membership to pursue outfield assist because of the comparatively lackluster in-house options of Eli White, Luke Williams and Carlos D. Rodriguez as choices to pair with Jarred Kelenic and Michael Harris II on the grass till Acuna returns.
On the pitching aspect of issues, nonetheless, the Braves seemingly have extra consolation with their inner choices. Reigning NL Cy Younger award winner figures to be joined by Lopez and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach within the membership’s Opening Day rotation for 2025, and the membership has a lot of doable inner choices to deal with the opposite two rotation spots together with Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, Hurston Waldrep, and Ian Anderson amongst others, however Anthopoulos instructed one shocking inner candidate for a rotation job as effectively: right-hander Grant Holmes.
The 28-year-old made his MLB debut for the Braves this previous season and excelled in a swing function for the membership with a 3.56 ERA and three.20 FIP in 68 1/3 innings of labor cut up between seven begins and 19 aid appearances. Given Holmes’s obvious consolation shifting between the rotation and bullpen, he may show to be a good choice to fill in for Strider within the membership’s Opening Day rotation earlier than shifting right into a aid function as soon as the hard-throwing righty returns to motion. Equally, O’Brien notes that Anthopoulos expressed curiosity in utilizing right-hander Daysbel Hernandez in a set-up function in 2025 to assist make up for the lack of Jimenez. Hernandez pitched simply 18 innings for Atlanta in 2024 throughout 16 appearances, however he made a powerful impression in that restricted time with a 2.50 ERA, a 35.1% strikeout price, and a 2.11 FIP.
One different choice to assist make up for the lack of Jimenez that O’Brien notes could possibly be on the desk is a reunion with southpaw A.J. Minter. Whereas O’Brien means that the membership “would possibly” re-sign Minter this winter, one potential wrinkle in bringing Minter again to assist ease the lack of Jimenez is the truth that the lefty may additionally miss Opening Day following surgical procedure. Minter underwent season-ending hip surgical procedure again in August, and O’Brien notes that it’s not but clear whether or not or not he’ll be able to pitch early within the 2025 season.
Even setting apart the potential implications Minter’s well being may have on Atlanta’s curiosity in a reunion, his damage woes lingering into the season may considerably impression incomes energy this winter, as effectively. MLBTR predicted a two-year, $16MM deal for Minter earlier this offseason as a part of our annual High 50 MLB Free Brokers listing, however that prediction got here with the presumption that the southpaw can be prepared for Opening Day in 2025. If Minter’s rehab from surgical procedure leaves Opening Day in query for the lefty all through the offseason, it might hardly be a shock to see the 31-year-old accept a one-year deal this winter in hopes of proving himself wholesome and having a greater probability at a extra profitable multi-year deal subsequent 12 months.
