It was a historic regular season for the Atlanta Braves in 2023, filled with home runs, relentless run-scoring and 104 wins. When it came to the playoffs, though, the club was unable to recapture the magic from the 2021 World Series run. Instead, the club, whether because of distractions, too much rest, or simply not playing well enough, won just one game in the NLDS against the rival Phillies, getting bounced at this round for the second consecutive year.
With likely NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and an elite core comprised of Austin Riley, Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and more returning for the 2024 season, the Braves should be World Series favorites. However, it's become clear that something is missing. And perhaps that something is attainable via free agency.
Alex Anthopoulos has made splash moves in the past two offseasons, trading and extending Olson and Sean Murphy. This year, though, making that splash in free agency might make more sense, especially if the Braves can add some of these free agents that would further solidify their case as contenders -- and possibly get them over this recent NLDS roadblock.
5. Michael Wacha could be a veteran anchor for the Braves rotation
Though there's no guarantee, you have to believe that Braves manager Brian Snitker would love to have been able to start veteran Charlie Morton in Game 3 as the NLDS went to Philadelphia. With the near-40-year-old going on the IL right before the start of the postseason, though, it was Bryce Elder who got the nod. And unfortunately, his second-half struggles in the regular season didn't disappear in the playoffs.
Now, the Braves have a tough decision to make with Morton. He has a $20 million club option for the 2024 season, a total he could be worth given how well he still pitched this past season. However, there has been plenty of buzz that the veteran could retire and make the decision for Atlanta.
In any case, the best bet would be to pursue another veteran anchor for the middle of the rotation. The Braves need to bolster that area of the roster in the 2024 season, as noted by FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray after the NLDS loss. That's particularly true with Kyle Wright out for all of next year.
Someone like Michael Wacha, who spent the 2023 campaign with the disappointing Padres, could very much fit the bill. The 32-year-old continued a bit of a resurgence of late by posting a 3.22 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in San Diego this past year, nearly identical to what he did the year prior with the Red Sox.
Wacha isn't a long-term solution for the Braves, but he should be a cost-effective free agent who could help Atlanta fortify their rotation top-to-bottom.
4. Braves reuniting with Joc Pederson would be huge for the lineup
Outside of Acuña, the majority of the big names for the Braves performed at least decently in the NLDS loss to the Phillies. Austin Riley was the star with a 1.059 OPS but Matt Olson, Ozzie Albie and Sean Murphy all hit .250 or better for the series as well. The bottom of the order, however, was flat-out atrocious and a big reason for Atlanta's offense as a whole going cold.
The struggles of the oft-maligned-turned-resurgent-hero Marcell Ozuna were immense as he posted a .421 OPS with four strikeouts against the Phillies over four games. Eddie Rosario couldn't produce more playoff magic with his .286 OPS for the series. And Kevin Pillar was equally problematic with a .286 OPS as well.
Though we spent so much of the regular season praising the quality and depth of the Braves lineup, the potential pitfalls at the bottom of the order reared their ugly heads in the playoffs. That's something, though not the top priority, that Alex Anthopoulous must consider addressing. And perhaps a familiar face could help the cause.
Joc Pederson and his pearls created one of the figureheads for the Braves' World Series run in 2021. However, the power-hitting lefty departed for the San Francisco Giants in the offseason, where he's spent the past two years.
Pederson is not a perfect hitter, but as a platoon DH or, though not ideal, outfield option, he can still be lethal. And let's not forget his elite power, hitting 38 home runs and 39 other extra-base hits over 254 games with the Giants. His familiarity with Atlanta could allow for some sort of discount, but the 31-year-old reuniting with his former team could be beneficial to both parties.
3. Blake Snell might be a Braves pipe dream, but the conversation is necessary
One of the calling cards for Alex Anthopoulos throughout his tenure with the Braves has been not overextending the franchise financially. Though they have made splashy trades and some big moves, Atlanta has not been in the business of looking at the top of the market in free agency. One could make the argument that's the reason that Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson are in LA and Chicago, respectively.
At some point, though, Anthopoulos might have to buck that trend and pony up the dough -- and that time might be this offseason. Yes, some would argue that the Braves could try to make a play for Shohei Ohtani. However, the more pivotal use of that type of spending might be to address the glaring starting pitching need with the best on the market: Blake Snell.
Despite the immense issues with the Padres this past season, Snell was far from the problem en route to likely winning the NL Cy Young. The soon-to-be 31-year-old southpaw led the NL with a 2.25 ERA while posting a 1.19 WHIP (largely only that high due to his questionable walk rate) and was tied for the third-most strikeouts with 234.
Should he end up taking home the hardware this season, he'll be one of only a handful of MLB pitchers to have won a Cy Young in both the AL and NL. Yet, as San Diego tries to pick up the pieces of this failed season, they're likely to allow Snell to walk in free agency this offseason.
Now, imagine a 1-2-3 top of the rotation of Strider-Snell-Fried, or whatever order you want, for the Braves. That's the type of group that dominates postseason play, which should be the ultimate goal for Atlanta. It would be against the trends we've seen in terms of offseason spending, but it could prove worth it if Anthopoulos were to take that type of swing.
2. Josh Hader would make the Braves bullpen lights-out
With Josh Hader set to become a free agent this offseason, there was some buzz at the MLB Trade Deadline that the closer could be on the move amid the aforementioned struggles in San Diego. Ultimately, the franchise unwisely elected to buy rather than sell, which proved to be a futile effort for the Friars.
Now, the Padres are likely to lose Snell and Hader as well for nothing in free agency. They are a small-market franchise with an exorbitant payroll that needs to cut costs where they can. Though it certainly won't help the outlook for winning games, letting two high-priced free agents walk is an obvious place to start.
That could work to the Braves' benefit in a massive way, though. As mentioned, Snell should be the top-of-the-line target, but a move for Josh Hader would make some sense as well.
Tyler Matzek missed the entirety of the 2023 season returning from Tommy John surgery, but is on-track to return for 2024. There are obviously some other great pieces in the Braves bullpen like Raisel Iglesias and AJ Minter. Yet, others like Colin McHugh or Kirby Yates, who have been a bit up-and-down, could be gone as they have club options this offseason. Jesse Chavez isn't getting any younger. And there are some depth questions with this group overall.
Hader has proven to be one of the best closers in baseball for several years now, the 2023 campaign included as he posted a 1.28 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 33 saves for the season. The fact of the matter, though, is that relievers are much less costly in free agency than starters. Thus, signing him might not be as big of a hit on the Braves' checkbook as a top-end starter.
Yet, landing him would have a huge impact. While improving the rotation with depth would still be necessary, signing Hader in free agency could give Atlanta one of the best back-end bullpens in baseball that would give a ton of comfort for the lineup and starters. And it's an option Anthopoulos must consider.
1. Jordan Montgomery has proven himself as a top-tier target for the Braves
Jordan Montgomery has become well-traveled over the past couple of seasons, being traded from the Yankees to the Cardinals at the 2022 deadline only for St. Louis to have the bottom to fall out this year and ship him to the Rangers. He's currently about to be one of the anchors of Texas' rotation in the ALCS and has been everything they could've wanted from a trade deadline acquisition.
Over 11 starts in the regular season with the Rangers, the southpaw was legitimately one of the best pitchers in baseball, posting a 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. And over two postseason starts for Texas, he's continued to prove his moxie with a 1-0 record and a 3.27 ERA. He has made himself quite a bit of money as he's set to hit free agency this offseason.
Having said that, Montgomery, who turns 31 years old at the end of December, likely won't command the same top-of-market money as Snell, even if he's been exceptional in his own right. That will make his market in free agency extremely competitive, but it could also allow the Braves to comfortably pursue him.
Fried has essentially been the only lefty consistently in the Braves rotation for a bit now. Adding Montgomery with his level of talent could be a move that fits the M.O. of Anthopoulos in terms of cost but also adequately improves the rotation going into the 2024 season. Again, there will be competition, but after a postseason run, Montgomery could be intrigued by joining another contender like Atlanta, and they should be willing to oblige.
