The Braves are poking around the market for outfield help after non-tendering Ramon Laureano and prefer to add a left-handed bat if possible, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
It doesn’t seem as though Atlanta is intent on shopping at the top of the market. They’ve not been suggested as anything more than a speculative dark horse for top free agent Juan Soto. Veterans like Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernandez, Jurickson Profar and Tyler O’Neill all seem likely to command multi-year deals of note. The Braves are looking for some depth to help cover early in the season, in the likely event that Ronald Acuna Jr. is unavailable to begin the year; president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said at this month’s GM Meetings that they’re planning as though Acuna will open the season on the injured list.
With no Acuna, the Braves’ outfield would include Jarred Kelenic, Michael Harris II and some combination of Eli White, Luke Williams and recently signed Carlos D. Rodriguez. It’s logical that Atlanta would pursue some more solidity on that front. Some may feel Laureano could have provided just that, but his solid showing with Atlanta was buoyed by a .380 average on balls in play and came in spite of a 3.5% walk rate and 28.3% strikeout rate. Regression seems highly likely. Laureano hit just .218/.296/.373 in 2022-23 with a similar strikeout rate, twice the walk rate, and a BABIP about 100 points lower. Plus, he’s a right-handed bat.
Most of Atlanta’s moves in free agency and on the trade market thus far have been modest in scope. Anthopoulos rarely spends on long-term deals in free agency, preferring instead to operate on the trade market and to rely on a strong track record of in-house development. Atlanta has only given out three free-agent contracts greater than two years under Anthopoulos (link via MLBTR’s Contract Tracker): left-hander Will Smith (three years, $40MM), right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (three years, $30MM) and outfielder/DH Marcell Ozuna (four years, $65MM). None of that necessarily precludes a larger-scale deal, but history suggests it to be unlikely.
Fortunately for the Braves, there’s a fairly deep pool of inexpensive left-handed-hitting bats on this offseason’s market. Max Kepler, Michael Conforto, Alex Verdugo, Jesse Winker, David Peralta, Mike Tauchman and switch-hitting former top prospect Dylan Carlson are among the lefty bats available this winter. (Kepler and Conforto, in particular, might require multi-year deals.) The trade and waiver markets offer further possibilities.
Anthopoulos has already suggested this offseason that he expects his payroll to rise in 2025. The Braves spent about $232MM on last year’s roster and currently have a projected $202MM payroll in 2025, per RosterResource. That certainly leaves room for some additions, but Atlanta’s luxury-tax ledger is a bit more crowded.
The Braves have more than $217MM in projected luxury obligations, leaving them $24MM or so from hitting this year’s $241MM barrier. They’d be paying the tax for a third straight season if they cross that line and, as such, would be subject to the steepest tier of penalties. They’d start at a 50% tax on the first $20MM by which they exceed the line, followed by 62% for the next $20MM, 95% for the next $20MM (plus their top draft pick in 2026 dropping by ten places) and 110% for any dollars thereafter. With needs at shortstop, in the starting rotation and in the bullpen as well, Anthopoulos will have a hard time piecing everything together without crossing that line.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Kepler would fit well with the braves and suddenly hit 35 homers
Lindor's Bodyguard
Just like Kelenic. Oh, wait…
chiefnocahoma1
They’re hardly similar.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Kepler is a proven big leaguer, kelenic is worthless
Pete'sView
You would think LH On-Base-Machine LaMonte Wade Jr. of the Giants would be a good fit on the Braves assuming he goes back to the OF from whence he came originally.
HatlessPete
That’s a pretty decent fit imo. Kepler gives you a solid floor with his defense, can cover other of spots in a pinch and at least has the track record to suggest a bit of potential offensive upside.
bigdaddyt
How would AA like right handed George Springer with a healthyish shoulder. Wouldn’t take anything and would only cost like 50 million. Cant put a price on a couple good diving catches a year can ya?
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Hell no to a huge contract that plays 80 games with bad offense and defense
bigdaddyt
Shhh I was hoping AA hadn’t watched a jays game since he left
Brew’88
I’m always amazed by how much $ the Braves have each year to spend under the CBT cap. They could probably afford my guy Profar, whereas I don’t think the Padres could. Though Jurickson is looking for multi-year deal so maybe not meeting Braves short-term only needs.
Seamaholic
They’re owned (via an intermediary company) by an out-of-state international corporation with a market cap of $27b. The Braves’ operating budget is a small line on the Liberty Media balance sheet.
NashvilleJeff
@Seamaholic: The Braves must operate on revenue created by the organization according to the charter signed by Liberty Media when they bought the Braves from Time-Warner. Liberty Media doesn’t pay the Braves operating expenses.
solaris602
I think GMs are still gonna be leery of Profar since he’s not done anything outside of SD. His time in COL was pretty bad, so I think the Padres may be the only team that will get anything out of him.
Brew’88
That might be true solaris!
RunDMC
If you can hit in Petco…
BlooperDisbeliever
Predicting they take Carlson of the bunch. I know he isn’t a safe bet, but….
bhambrave
He does seem like an AA flyer type.
WillieMaysHayes24
I wouldn’t bet on that happening, Carlson is a much worse hitter batting left handed.
Wizcards
Always hoped he would ditch hitting lefty while with STL. Way better from the right side just like Edman
sufferforsnakes
Arizona might consider parting with a LH hitting outfielder. What could the Braves offer in return?
Braves_saints_celts
Who could we get for aj Smith shawver? Hursten Waldrep? Or a lower tier guy but extremely talented in Owen Murphy? We also have a couple bats in the system but not as good as our pitching prospects and I don’t think we would be willing to part with drake Baldwin. He will probably be our backup catcher starting the year.
HatlessPete
Idk seems to me like the last thing the braves should be doing is moving their better young pitchers for a role that can easily be filled in the bargain aisles through free agency or in less costly trades. Az’s lh outfielders have lots of team control left and therefore cost more than the braves need to spend for a stopgap insurance guy for acuna and 4th of
southi
Conforto, Verdugo, and Peralta could all be good additions for the right contract.
Not a clever name
Comforto,soler, maybe trade for Yaz, sounds like an outfielder that could compete for 4th in the Nl west.
Pete'sView
southi and Not a clever name—
Yaz is a terrific all around player, but he does strikeout a lot. He’s much better in all parts of his game than those others you mentioned.
ruckus727
Would they trade for Cody Bellinger?
BPax
Kelenic is still young, but I wonder if he’ll ever fulfill his potential/hype? I rooted for him with the M’s and he showed flashes. I hope he’s gotten over his taking personally any strike call he doesn’t agree with. He could be painful to watch hit.
bwood
Nope, from the cozy confines of Safeco or uh……… pink T-Mobile.
Only pain is when he bust his foot kicking the beer cooler in the dugout cause its empty not cause of a bad call.
That’d be immature bud, hes way above that.
Chicken In Philly?
I don’t personally care about him griping about not making Seattle’s Opening Day roster and raising implications of service time manipulation, much like Kris Bryant did back in the day – to each their own. But if you do that, and then show up and basically play nowhere near your prospect hype? Makes me think he’s got the talent but not the temperament. Seattle dumping him so soon is clearly an indication that he’ll never “turn the corner.” Good on AA taking a shot, though.
A'sfaninLondonUK
@Blooper
They are all thin gruel. For me it’d be Peralta, but they are all at the bottom of the ugly bucket…
bwood
“Anthopoulos rarely spends on long-term deals in free agency, preferring instead to operate on the trade market and to rely on a strong track record of in-house development.”
That sounds like The Mariners front office.
If “Trader Jerry” and AA are essentially operating the front office with the same mindset then what separates AA with Trader?
ATL had a postseason berth this year, 22/23 division winners and WS win in 21.
Since 2002 SEA has just one playoff appearance, 2022.
Player evolution, leadership, roster construction, ownership, the ballpark………?
Lay it out for me you distasteful (haha) tomahawk choppers
Lindor's Bodyguard
Separates? Approximately $100 million in annual payroll.
Idosteroids
Get ready to learn how to speak Dylan Carlson
Low IQ Angels Management
Mickey Moniak you’re up!
pjmcnu
Please let it be Alex Verdugo! I hate him and hate the Braves. It just fits. Plus, he’s awful, so….
Pete'sView
He is awful . . . like so many of the hyped Dodger prospects who turn out meh.
Lindor's Bodyguard
What do you think of Bregman with the Phillies?!?! More hate!!!
The biggest tr0ll
Take Yoshida. We’ll trade him for a bag of balls…
Sabean Wannabe
A trade for Mike Yaz will solve their problem.
Smacky
As I said on a previous post – watch Alex sign Joc.
Pete'sView
Joc can’t play the outfield anymore. Well, he can but it won’t be pretty.
Smacky
That’s the aisle the Braves are shopping in.
Niekro floater
Joc is stud vs right-handers. Needs to drop sum weight n get serious bout conditioning. He’s good player n all u hear is good things bout em being lockerroom guy. Afraid he’s gonna eat himself out of league.
Skyrider123
As a Braves fan, Id take Joc, but would he be any better in the outfield than Soler? I say no.
HatlessPete
Doesn’t make sense from a roster construction standpoint. Soler was a response to a different situation with fewer available options. With ozuna entrenched in dh rn the braves can better use the money pederson would cost since Joc is borderline unplayable in the field.
bravesnation nc
We took a bunch of castoffs and still made the PS in 24. Snit will get production from whoever it is. Chop on!
RunDMC
Jarred Kelenic: hold my beer
Sad.Sox 3
Maybe the Red Sox could trade them Jarren Duran for Chris Sa…..oh wait
metsin4
Duran is a top 5 player in baseball and you’re talking about trading him? You realize the Red Sox would drastically lose that trade again with the Braves.
Sad.Sox 3
You realize I was joking, right?
LordD99
I’d like to believe he knew you were joking, but I’m not sure.
El Chupacabra
KC could/should part with MJ Melendez. Who knows, maybe ATL catches lightning in a bottle. He does have upside. Acquisition cost should be fairly minimal.
Rsox
Eddie Rosario?
In all seriousness Verdugo might do well there but i could see them going for Tauchman, Winker or Peralta more because they could go to the bench and still be productive when Acuna is ready and if Kelenic produces
Sunday Lasagna
can’t imagine a championship caliber team being able to afford Kelenic production out of left field. AA needs more than one OF this off-season.
Larry D.
The Cubs are so hard up to ditch Bellinger’s contract that he can be ‘had’ for a low level prospect. But then there’s that contract.
HALfromVA
The Rangers are on the phone. Make an offer for Leody Taveras. Please.
nscheffel
I don’t understand why AA would want a LHH to put in the OF next to Kelenic and Harris to start the season while Acuna is out. Seems to me the move should be to get the best RHH OFer they can afford, start him in RF while Acuna recovers, then either platoon him with Kelenic in LF or move Kelenic to the bench when Acuna is ready.
Smacky
He’s constructing a team for the whole season. Not just the first 30 games. This is still a team that has slugged .500 for a full season.
C Yards Jeff
If Adam Frazier is still around late in the process, get him? Vet on the decline. So had for cheap. Can give you outfield and 2nd base play. Good luck charm? 3 consecutive years playing for 3 different teams with each team making the playoffs. Hmm.
UGA_Steve
I agree. Maybe AA has a second move lined up.
brucenewton
Probably way too smart to be interested in Soto.
Lindor's Bodyguard
Kelenic for Bellinger? Bellinger contract seems a little rich for the Braves, but he’s a whole lot better than Kelenic.
olereb
I think Kelenic is gone
LordD99
There that Soto guy. He bats left handed.