There’s not a whole lot of mystery surrounding the Braves’ offseason needs. Ha-Seong Kim declining his player option leaves them back at square one at shortstop. They need more depth in a rotation that was battered by injury. They’re potentially losing three high-leverage relievers (Raisel Iglesias, Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley) to free agency.
President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said on Tuesday that starting pitching and shortstop will take precedence early in the offseason. “We’re going to focus on those spots,” he told reporters (relayed by David O’Brien of The Athletic). “We’ll see where those lead us, what the acquisition costs are and all that, and then we’ll turn our attention to the bullpen.”
The Braves more or less telegraphed that course of action when they declined their club options on Johnson and Kinley. The latter was particularly surprising, as Kinley could have been retained for $5.5MM. That seemed a bargain price for a pitcher who’d turned in a 0.72 ERA over 25 innings after a deadline deal with the Rockies. Johnson seemed a slightly easier cut given his rocky finish to the season, but he’d still been a generally effective high-leverage arm over two and a half seasons with the Braves.
Cutting Kinley and Johnson saved the Braves $11.5MM. Another $16MM came off the books once Kim opted out. Some of that is offset by raises for Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo López. The Braves have $176.5MM committed to 12 players, though they’re likely to have one of the sport’s lightest arbitration classes. Dylan Lee and Nick Allen might be the only two arbitration-eligible players whom they tender contracts, and they’d project for less than $4MM between the two of them.
The Braves opened last season with a player payroll around $208MM. They should have a decent amount of spending capacity to at least make middle-tier free agent additions akin to last winter’s Jurickson Profar pickup. Their claim of Kim in the first place indicated they were willing to pay him $16MM. He’s presumably still their main target at shortstop, where there simply aren’t many alternatives.
Bo Bichette is the only other free agent regular at the position. He’d obviously be far more expensive than Kim would. The trade market looks barren, especially if the Nationals don’t want to trade CJ Abrams to a division rival. Maybe there’ll be a long shot trade option like J.P. Crawford or Ezequiel Tovar, but the likelier outcome is that the Braves would either need to stick with Allen or trade for a similarly low-upside stopgap if they don’t get a Kim deal done.
The rotation currently projects as Sale, Strider, López, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep. That’d be an excellent group if all five pitchers made 30+ starts, but that’s not realistic. All but Waldrep missed time last season. López made just one start before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Schwellenbach broke his elbow and missed the second half. Sale is going into his age-37 season. Grant Holmes may or may not be able to pitch through an elbow sprain. The Braves can’t run things back with only Bryce Elder, Didier Fuentes, and maybe Alek Manoah as their depth arms.
Atlanta has not spent big on free agent pitching under Anthopoulos (though they reportedly made a run at Aaron Nola before he re-signed with Philadelphia on a seven-year deal). Could that change this offseason? Georgia native Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, Michael King and Zac Gallen are among the more notable free agent starters available.
Luke Weaver and Brad Keller are candidates for the mid-tier “reliever to starter” conversion contract which the Braves tried with López. The Braves have one of the weakest farm systems in MLB, which would put them at a disadvantage in a bidding war for a top controllable trade candidate like Joe Ryan. They could accommodate a decent-sized salary on the trade market, though, which perhaps brings someone like Sonny Gray, Luis Severino, Robbie Ray or Jack Flaherty into play if they’re looking for a mid-rotation source of innings.
Emphasizing the rotation and shortstop could leave them looking for cheaper bullpen targets later in the winter. Lee, Bummer and Joe Jiménez (who missed all of last season rehabbing knee surgery) are their top internal options at the back end. They’ll need to add at least one right-hander who can pitch in leverage spots while overhauling the middle innings group.
Tyler Kinley sounds like an arm the Dodgers might be interested in. Effective with the right coaching and an inexpensive gamble.
The Braves already beat them to it. They got him in a deadline deal from the Rockies. He pitched 25 innings with a 0.72 ERA.
The article covers this with:
“They’re potentially losing three high-leverage relievers (Raisel Iglesias, Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley) to free agency.”
And went on about them declining his option. He’s a free agent unless they can re-sign him.
I am telling you the Braves already gave you the blue print. The answer is yes, he CAN be effective with the right coaching.
Yes, and that’s why the Dodgers might want to sign him. We’re arguing the same point.
I thought you were saying he’s still signed with the Braves.
Nick Allen was runner-up for the GG and while his bat is utterly useless he makes up for it defensively. Will the Braves really spend around $200 million to land Bo Bichette? Not very many options available
I agree. He’s elite in defense and I just don’t see how they can get much better. Bichette isn’t going there, and I don’t see anybody trading away a good hitting short stop who can play the position. AA really set this organization back with all those guaranteed contracts and no farm system.
@wvsteve –‘no farm system’ that just produced another ROY (gaining an addt 1st rd pick) in 5 years (when they had the top-2 finalists). Farm rankings quell fan bases going through rebuilds, so they’re not outside their owners’ offices with tiki torches. AA took over a team with international sanctions and took away 13 prospects (and draft picks) — regardless of how good any of them turned out being, it massively hurt the depth and took years to reveal that. That same farm system has produced Schwellenbach, as well, one of the most talented SP in the game. This was all while they were ranked bottom-third in MLB. Sure, they don’t have the ammo to trade for Skenes (lol), but they can allow some to be lost to free agency and fill in for them reasonably well (if not upgrade altogether: d’Arnaud = Baldwin, etc.).
RunDMC:How dare you come on this site spitting out facts.
No farm system … at least not with any position players in the pipeline for 2026. There are some nice prospects two or three years away. For now, though, the roster is extremely vulnerable to either injuries or underperformance.
It’s not that there’s no farm system is that they spent like all their draft picks on pitching and didn’t address their shortstops for years they knew Dansby Swanson was going to leave back in 2021 and you go and look at the those drafts since then all the top picks are starting pitchers and some of those drafts they would go four or five picks in before they would take a position player. That’s because they viewed pitching as currency.
Sort of correct, but you are forgetting about Int’l signings, where many teams focus for SS.
Draft
2019 – Braden Shewmake – 1st round pick
2021 – Cal Conley (college pick to hopefully fast track)
2022 – Nacho Alvarez – who EVERYONE is underrating .. dude is stil young and will make adjustments
Int’ signings
– Ambioris Tavarez
– Diego Benitez
– Derian Cruz
They have actually been somehwat active at SS position, but their college picks have hit a AAA ceiling and their Int’s guys have been garbage so far despite being highly touted.
The real problem here is the Braves front office chose not to pay market value for Dansby and instead threw the money into positions that are typically easier to fill in FA (1B, 3B, 2B, OF). I don’t know if they just thought a 2 WAR player at the games premium position wasn’t worth the money, or maybe they didn’t want to deal with the agent, or the fact Dansby chose not to extend early and it irked them. Or maybe, they thought Grissom, Conley, or Shewmake were good enough to assume the roll for pennies on the dollar (big misses there). No idea, I just know it pissed me off then, and still pisses me off now.
I’d say no chance they pay Bichette to replace Albies.
Isn’t Olzuna off the books, if so theres a loss at dh Sean Murphy could fill in with drake Baldwin at catcher. Don’t the braves have any ss prospects or pitching prospects? They could go Dodger style by just using 10 + starters at 100 innings each
All of the Braves SS prospects are years away, maybe Lodise could be in play in 2027, if he takes a big step next year.
For pitching we have JR Ritchie knocking at the door, who had TOR upside, we also have several others who could help. Like Hackenberg and Braun. And of course the ones mentioned in the article such as Bryce Elder, Didier Fuentes and Alek Manoah if he can make a comeback.
Everyone is so easily overlooking Nacho. He did just fine towards the end of last year and was only 22. He tore up the minors. AAA alone he has an .840 OPS in two seasons with solid glove work while he averaged being 4.8 years younger than his competition.
I certainly don’t know if he will improve, but everyone seems to have such a short leash on these prospects today. Just stop blocking him with vagabond vets with no upside and see what happens.
Nacho hit great in the Arizona Fall League .. Th problem is that he is more suited for 3B or 2B .
He’s not really a good fielding SS
He can’t hit a MLB fastball and has no power. Who’s overlooking what? Slap hitter, not enough range to play ML middle infield. The Braves played him almost exclusively at 3B in Gwinnett after his ML debut. If AA’s lucky, he’ll find a team that will settle for a good defensive 3rd basemen w/very little power. Trade him. He likely has no future w/Atlanta.
Then you need to carry a 3rd catcher. Can’t gamble with your backup catcher at DH every game or you’ll get burned eventually.
If you have an emergency catcher on the roster (preferably a utility guy) you’ll be fine, so long as there’s AAA options handy. If Sandy Leon sticks with Gwinnett, they’re OK.
I believe Sonny Gray would happily accept a trade to the Braves. The Braves could also use a bat. Cardinals would want something like Ritchie. Maybe Dodd.
No team is providing value for Cards’ salary dumps without eating a bunch of money. Even Bloom knows this.
No clue why this weirdo is replying to my comments when I cant reply to his.
The Cardinals would pay the salary down. I thought that was assumed. Duh.
He isnt so far out of the market for a TOR one year deal. Tops 10m, more likely 5m. And maybe not even that if there is strong enough competition
He isnt so far out of the market for a TOR one year deal.
======================
If he was a TOR, which he isn’t. Very good #3 or weakish #2.
You have to have a f amazing rotation if a guy with 3.6 fWAR and a FIP of 3.39 is a ‘weak 2 os strong 3’.
Projected for 4WAR in 2026. Do the math.
Grey to Atlanta makes alot of sense to me. They have a clear pitching need and project better than the Cardinals for a playoff spot, also its close to Grey’s home so im sure hed accept. Im sure bloom would be happy getting back a lottery ticket prospect in the salary dump deal. Id think where ever grey ends up the Cardinals aren’t eating more than 5-10 million
@LaFleur — Gray is owed essentially 1/40M (inc. 5M buyout, or 30M team option). Are there a lot of teams that want a 36 y/o 30M+ pitcher…? Plus, he has a NTC, so I wouldn’t doubt Gray will want something to waive it for a trade, like maybe a team picking up that insane 30M team option, which would make it a 2/65M. Gray has been dependable, but that’s a lot of money for someone in their twilight years. STL would need to pay quite a bit more than 5-10M to move him, which probably isn’t worth it considering working through the NTC and how many IP we can account for.
Sonny is on the downside. Sevy, Robbie Ray and Flaherty are staying put.
4 WAR projection for 2026. 3.6 WAR in 2025.
At 9m/WAR that makes him worth 36m before you factor in yhe 1-year benefit
But dont let data get in the way.
This, exactly.
…but will anyone value him at that? That’s based on the free agent market, which many teams try and find more value than 9M per WAR. And considering his age, there’s more risk. Gray never got 2-WAR (and hasn’t since 2023) while in STL, but he’ll all of a sudden double that at 36…? Don’t let the projections get in the way of the data.
If I were David Fletcher, I’d bet against those projections.
3.6 fWAR in 2025. 3.8 fWAR in 2024. Check your facts.
Durable TOR arms are always in demand, and nobody has to pay for age 38-40.
Oh…the debate between what is more reliable: bWAR vs. fWAR. My facts were based on bWAR, so they’re correct. Just depends on if you prefer Coke or Pepsi, I guess. Keep thinking Gray is a 30M AAV at 36 y/o…and if only that were the acquisition price.
I guess we will see.
His home is in Tennessee and ATL isnt that much further away than STL. Also where are you getting hes in the “twilight” of his career? Atlanta just brought back Carlos Carrasco as a depth piece… hes in the Twilight of his career, not Sonny. Sonny threw 180+ innings which atlanta needs striking out over 200 batters (in line with his career average k rate) while issuing walks at near career low rates. He did allow more runs and homeruns than usually, but that doesn’t mean hes in the twilight of his career. Hes still got a 2nd starters stuff if not an ace. In Atlanta hed slot in 3rd or 4th when there all healthy, which wasnt the case last year. Gray was healthy which is very valuable when trying to make the postseason. Yeah hes got alot of money on the line, but if nonsubstantial players dont come back to STL I dont see alot of money going to Atlanta in a potential deal
Not to say hes Randy Johnson but he had his best seasons from age 35-40
Carrasco = MiLB deal (cut him last season)
Sonny = 1/40M (not inc. NTC) and/or prospects required to obtain him.
A little different. Smidge.
Put Gray up against someone like FA Chris Bassitt that has history with new PC Hefner, will be a short-term deal, no prospects to obtain, doesn’t have the upside that Gray has, but can eat innings…and you can devote the savings b/w the two to RP reconstruction.
Im just saying it makes sense, other than the money and no trade clause what doesnt make sense? Gray said he wants to win, hed have a chance at that in ATL. the biggest thing for him was being close to his home in Tennessee for the NTC. the money can be figured out. Houston didnt have the money to trade for Verlander and it still happened in 2017
He was making 28-33 million before inflation shot up juan sotos 750 million dollar deal Detroit covered 8 million for 2 years. In this trade I could see STL covering 5-10 million
What doesnt make sense?
@LaFleur — you’re right, it makes a ton of sense. This team hasn’t spent like that and that kind of AAV on the team is unprecedented, regardless of them inheriting the deal. I’ve said it before, but they value value more than players, so if they see more value elsewhere, they’ll go there.
Damn man id hate to have your imagination. Your probably right, they’d rather sign Chris Bassitt for 25 million over taking on Gray for 30 million
Note: MLBTR predicts Bassitt will get 2/38M…so you essentially get 2 years of Bassitt OR 1 year of Gray. Bassitt is about 1 year older, but they’re just about the same pitcher (slight edge on career ERA+ to Gray 117 vs. 114), but Bassitt had the better 2025, while also reuniting with old PC (Hefner).
So, 2 years of Bassitt OR 1 year of Gray, not mentioning the acquisition price (or NTC entanglements)…? I’m selling myself on Bassitt, tbh.
With Sonny, his ERA has went up the past few years, and it’s been awhile but Sonny allowed more hits than IPs last year. He also faded as the season wore on.
I don’t think the Braves would even consider the idea of trading Ritchie for Gray. The Cards would have to pay a significant portion of the contract if not all of it.
Dodd might be available in a trade though.
By Ritchie I assume you mean their number 2 prospect? Teams don’t make trades like that anymore. No one gives top prospect value for an aging vet on a one year deal. And how far would they have to pay that down at that point. I’m telling you Gray would return 2 mid level prospects if you are some salary. That’s just the way the league has gone.
Gray trade makes a ton of sense if they can work out the salary
Ritchie is not happening – not for Gray.
Agree. Imo, Ritchie has a solid chance of being the #5 starter. Like to see it happen.
If Ritchie is the number 5 starter who is he bumping from the rotation?
There’s no one one plugged in at #5 right now. Sale, Strider, Schwellenbach, Waldrep are probably 1-4. Each of the first 3 had injury problems that caused them to miss in excess of 2 months each in 25. Who do you think the #5 is? Lopez and Holmes have serious injury questions. One or both may be relegated to the pen if they’re even healthy enough to start the season. Elder? He’s a trade option because he’s out of options. He’ll be lucky to stick and might end up in the pen as the long man. Ritchie will get a chance to be the #5 out of ST barring a trade that blocks him. Still might give Strider and Waldrep competition for their spots. The Braves would trade Dodd. He’d be no more than a sweetener in any deal.
I suggested them acquiring Gray. You forget that part? In 2027 they have Schwarver coming back. I dont think they would miss Ritchie all that much.
I said “the Braves could also use a bat”
Did you notice that part? Good gosh guys open your eyes. Gray plus bat for Ritchie and Dodd with Cardinals paying salary.
Where do you want the Braves to play the bat you say they need. A 4th outfielder? Cards don’t have anything that would fill the only open position the Braves need—SS. Very much doubt the Braves are dealing their best upper level prospect arm for 1 year of Gray. Might get Braun or Hackenberg as the headliner w/Dodd. Wonder how much salary StL would pay down on Gray?
The Braves would replace Ozuna with someone like Donovan or Nootbaar. I dont think Burleson is a great fit but perhaps him too.
My guess is the Cardinals would pay at least half of Gray’s salary. It’s a backloaded deal why not?
The Cardinals do not have a shortstop that is true.
No I didn’t “forget” anything. I just mentioned the reasons the Braves probably don’t want to deal off the best and most ML ready prospect arm they have. Anthopolous spoke yesterday about using Baldwin and Murphy in a catching/DH timeshare. That indicates he doesn’t intend to go after a full time DH replacement for Ozuna. Using a defensively challenged Profar and Acuna (to protect his knee health) in the DH spot will probably happen some too. I could see the Braves having interest in Nootbar (if his physical’s clean) as a solid 4th of’er to spot both of Profar and Acuna. Dodd, Braun and Hackenberg for Nootbar (or Donovan) and Gray w/half his salary paid down seems fair. Btw—-your Cards have a great SS. They just won’t trade him
Waldrep is their best pitching prospect. They already have Schwellenbach. Schwarver comes back in 2027. They dont need young pitching.
Using a catcher as a DH is dumb. They need to trade Murphy. Cardinals could include Pedro Pages if they do.
Braun and Hackenburg? No thank you. Cardinals need legit rotation options not a bunch of nobodies.
Braves aren’t trading Murphy at his lowest value. They might deal him after he returns from the hip surgery if he plays well enough to recoup some value. Tell AA that you think he’s “dumb” to DH a catcher. It’s not my idea, but I see nothing wrong w/doing that in addition to using Profar and Acuna in a 4 way DH timeshare. Might as well get Riley, Olson, and Eli White some time as DH too. Rested players for a change. Who knows how Scwellenbach returns after missing the last 2 months of 25 w/a broken elbow. AJ Smith-Shawver isn’t guaranteed to come back from TJS like he’s brand new either. Their #1 pitching prospect is Cam Caminiti, not Waldrep. The Braves probably aren’t trading their top arms for salary dumps. If the Cards can get #1 prospects for Gray from other teams they should do so. Imo, they won’t. We should revisit this discussion when (if) the Cards deal off Gray this off season. Hope the Cards get something their fanbase feels is worth trading Gray for—unless it’s Ritchie, Waldrep, or AJSS. Heh.
I think Murphy has plenty of value. And he isnt going to be able to play everyday in Atlanta anymore so they kinda gotta do something.
Ritchie isnt a number 1 prospect of any sort at all. You are making things up.
As I said already its not just for Gray its for him plus a bat and perhaps Pages too.
If Gray gets traded my bet is hes dealt to the Braves. He will accept a trade there its close to home and the Braves are a contender.
So the Braves wont trade Caminiti, Waldrep, Schwarver, Schwellenbach, Strider or Ritchie????? Nonsense.
Didn’t make anything up. I never said Ritchie was “a number one prospect.” I said he’s the best and most ML ready top prospect arm they have—-meaning that he’s the top prospect arm in the highest level of the system—-at AAA Gwinnett. I might be mistaken that the Braves won’t trade Caminiti, Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawver, Schwellenbach, Strider, or Ritchie but my opinion isn’t nonsense just because you don’t agree with it.
You cant start them all dude. The Braves have a surplus of starting pitchers and needs elsewhere. This is why trades happen.
The 6 names I listed all have options. Caminiti hasn’t pitched above A ball yet. AJSS won’t return until 2027—if then. Strider and Schwellenbach had serious injuries last season. No telling if they’ll be effective in 2026. It’s crucial for the Braves to maintain upper minors pitching depth. AA will trade some pitching. Neither of us knows which arms he’ll make available, but after having the rotation crushed by injury last year I doubt he’ll be willing to trade prospect arms that the organization believes are ML ready. Btw, their biggest need is SS. If they sign Kim it’s even less likely the better arms are dealt. I also didn’t mention Strider or Schwellenbach being dealt or not. No need for you to “make things up”—-“dude.”
1. Sonny Gray
2. J.P. Crawford
3. Devin Williams
That’s the Braves off season
I don’t hate it.
JP Crawford isn’t available, as then Seattle would need a SS.
Gray is unlikely to come with the amount of cash Atlanta would require.
Williams is available.
Seattle is loaded with SS candidates. Trading Crawford would give them a roster spot for Colt Emerson or Rivas and the cap space to add players elsewhere.
Seattle’s top prospect is a SS and from what I read he is ready for the majors with after having an impressive year at AAA.
-Ranger Suarez, Cease, King, Valdez, maybe Imanga or Bassit… any above average free agent SP at all plz (a couple of those are definitely pipe dreams)
-Gray, Joe Ryan, Alcantara trades maybe
-Kim…Seager or JP in trades
-Devin Williams
If we are going pie in the sky, spend big and win it all. Sign Cease & Suarez and bring back Raisel. Trade for Corey Seager and Buxton.(this is the reality where the Braves run their team the way I do on MLB THE SHOW).
While it’s possible some of those arms might be targeted by AA—maybe Bassitt because he doesn’t have a QO but the rest on your list do—-, I’d be surprised if he signed any FA w/a QO. Losing the PPI draft pick and bonus pool gained by Baldwin’s ROY win doesn’t seem like something AA’s likely to do. Braves have a chance to have a big draft next summer. Losing the PPI pick/bonus pool would hurt.
Crawford is 30 and has had only two good years out of his ten in the bigs. No thanks. I would prefer giving Nacho a run and focus our assets and cheaper bullpen arms aor maybe one more solid vet starter.
However, I do like the Gray and Williams ideas. Sadly, half of the teams in MLB will be after them, so chance the Braves get either is slim to none.
Nacho doesn’t have the range to play SS. They learned that trying their best to make him stick there in the minors. He’s more likely to be someone they try to use as part of a trade package.
Proof the Braves don’t believe he has a future w/them as a middle infielder. He’s been played (almost) exclusively at 3B in Gwinnett and Atlanta since his disastrous ML debut in 2024.
Yeah, I think there’s zero chance he’s on the team next year. AA will trade him while he’s still young enough somebody thinks they can fix him like he did Grissom, hopefully for a bullpen arm. One thing AA has been good about is trading young players that aren’t any good (Pache, Grissom, Muller, Waters, etc)
Thinking that too. Showing him off in the Arizona fall League to build his trade value.
You can include two twins pitchers in that description too. Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan. Lopez would not cost much if they took the full salary. Ryan is arbitration eligible and both have two years control left.
Lopez is a top of the rotation arm. He’ll demand a decent haul in return for him.
I wish that was the case as a twins fan. The Pohlads just want to save $$. They are $400 million in debt without local TV revenue.
They showed at trade deadline what will due they will take 25- 50 % of value if you take the contract.
Trade for Pablo Lopez, re-sign Kim, re-sign Iglesias, bring back Kinley, and try to get an extra arm for the bullpen like trading for left-handed specialist J.P Romero. If they cannot trade for Lopez, I think settling for Bassitt could be a solid back-up plan.
Fill in some depth holes for Gwinnett, maybe add a power-hitting bench bat, and call it an off-season…
Kim is overrated. I mean, he just is. His glove is league average at best now and he is what, a career .240 hitter with a little pop and low OBP.
He is basically slightly below league average. If they Braves wouldn’t pay Dansby in a similar price range, why would they want to invest in Kim. No thanks.
Pour the money into a SP and Closer and sit still at SS. People blamining the SS’es for the lack of offense last year have me laughing. Blame should be on almost everyone else on the team for the offensive collapse. Acuna was crap, Albies continues to underwhelm but is cheap so he keeps getting PT, Riley was horrible, Ozuna had one solid month, Harris was the second worst hitter in the NL by most rankings. Baldwin did well. Murphy was ok(not good, but not a total let down) until he was obviously not healthy, and Olson was only a letdown in view of his ridiculous 2023 season, but pretty much at his career norms I think.
Seriously, the offense at SS was closer to expectation than 4-5 other positions. Let’s just take a deep breath. Surely we can spend the money more wisely than overpaying Kim.
“Acuna was crap”????? 3.5 fWAR in 95 games. That’s the opposite of “crap.” Also. the Braves didn’t pay Kim “in a similar price range” to Dansby. Kim’s 1 year at $16M is much less Swanson’s $25M plus (7 years @ $177M.)
Loosen your Master’s visor, brother. It’s squeezing your skull too tight. You’re saying crazy things like Acuna is bad.
Re-sign Kim to play SS, trade for Sonny Gray, sign a closer and a decent middle reliever, and call it an off season.
I thought I saw somewhere the Braves were going to raise payroll by about 50M this year? Wouldn’t that put them around 270M. 100Mto play with to fill the roster out.
After arb projections, they’re at $194M right now.
No one, and I mean no one, really knows what the Braves will do. Last offseason was up in the air until they missed on a few targets and decided to go all in on a CBT reset so they could go bonkers this year if needed.
The Braves were top 5 in spending the previous two years and will likely jump back into that range this year, and could go all in with the window shrinking on this core. Maybe they blow the doors off and if things aren’t looking good mid-way through the year they blow things up and build around the young pitching core. Point is, no one really knows and anyone saying otherwise is just guessing.
My ideal offseason:
Bring back Kim on 2 year deal with an option for 3 at 18 per
Sign Peter Fairbanks, Tyler Rogers, & former Brave Sean Newcomb to the pen
Sign Bassitt or trade for Gray for the rotation.
RF Acuna
1B Olson
3B Riley
LF Profar
DH Baldwin
2B Albies
C Murphy
SS Kim
CF Harris
Eli White is the 4th outfielder to give Acuna & Profar days off at DH
Sale
Strider
Gray
Schwelly
Waldrep
Lopez
The ideal lineup and rotation (I would be good with use a 6 man rotation as much as possible to give Sale extra days off) for next year if the injury bug doesn’t cripple us again
I don’t get the Bassitt love. Yes, he pitched in this year’s Series, but he was not one of Toronto’s top 4 starters and was moved to the pen. Age and injury history are not on his side. However, he should be relatively cheap.
Bassitt is still solid overall. They need some consistency there. He’s a good shout for this team tbh.
Injury history? He’s made 30+ starts 4 years in a row. Honestly he and Gray (and Eovaldi) were on my list of “why the heck don’t the braves sign one of these guys?” in previous off-seasons (especially Bassitt-he’s less of a steal going into 2026 but still a very solid rotation stabilizer).
@Rishi — re: Bassitt — also, he was on the 2022 NYM team where Hefner was pitching coach. He put up some pretty decent numbers that landed him a deal in TOR. I wonder if Hefner would push for him to stabilize the rotation. MLBTR also predicted Bassitt would land in ATL.
Compare him to Lynn or Gibson
I mean he’s far better than Gibson. Lynn was a comp I guess but Bassitt has been better than Lynn was over the last several years and more consistent and made basically all his starts every year.
I can’t imagine the Braves not re-signing Kim.
I want to live in that world where signing a Boras client doesn’t exist.
So it could end up that choosing not to overpay Swanson means you have to overpay
Ha-Seong Kim. Damn.
Swanson was only a slight overpay, but Braves just weren’t willing. Kim probably the same thing, but he is older and I bet the Braves panic and throw buckets at him.
The Braves aren’t going to pay Kim close to the overpay Swanson got from the Cubs. No way the Braves pay Kim $25M plus a year on a huge multi year deal.
Cease has been on AA’s wishlist for years, I think he’s most likely of all the FA SP. IMO, HS Kim likely comes back as well. It is very hard to find a SS in a trade, and you can have Kim on a short enough deal to be the bridge until some of your young SS (2026 Draft too) hopefully make the majors. I think bullpen is most likely to be addressed in the trade market.
Going to be disappointed if AA signs a FA that received a QO. Losing the PPI pick gained w/Baldwin’s ROY win would damage the Braves ability to have the best draft they’ve had in years. Draft could be a monster if they get lucky in the December 9th Draft Lottery. They’re guaranteed to pick no lower than 7th no matter how they fare in the lottery, but getting a higher slot would be a nice boost to the draft pool and the farm.
I thought it was 8th, but maybe wherever I read that was wrong. Either way, your point is valid. Sad thing is, I think picking in the mid-teens is right where Atlanta likes to operate. They seem to value manipulating signable players to snag a few overslot guys here and there rather than just going after pure talent. Not certain it’s working, but it’s kind of the Braves thing. That and going after arms who flashed in a small sample in college before blowing up their arms.
I would be far more annoyed if they gave up a bunch for Cease. I cannot fathom how a guy with a 4.5+ ERA in two of the last three seasons is thought of as as ace. I mean, Cease gets more pub that Fried got and Fried has clearly been the better pitcher throughout his career.
Not many options at ss. Not really a craft position like it once was. With that said it may be time to get creative with filling the position. Thinking out loud- I wonder if Profar can still play a little infield.
*not a craft position