The Atlanta Braves go into the 2024 offseason with questions after missing out on the NL East crown and a playoff run. The injury bug bit the Braves massively. Star players such as Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Sean Murphy went down with month-to-season-ending injuries. Now, with a roller coaster season behind them, general manager Alex Anthopoulos needs to answer some glaring questions regarding the roster rebuild and make. With contracts coming up, glaring weaknesses exposed, and a need to win in the playoffs, Anthopoulos must work his magic. The Braves have some glaring questions in the front office this winter.
Is Max Fried an Atlanta Brave?
With all the Braves questions, this is the top priority. Max Fried’s deal is up, and now is the time to work out the numbers on his next contract. However, the discussion is on whether Fried will get the extension. The soon-to-be 31-year-old is finishing his last year of arbitration, where he earned $13.5 million in 2023-2024. Although Fried’s 2024 is slightly worse than previous seasons, he still earned an All-Star nod. The California native also boasts three Gold Glove awards in his career. Fried played a big part in the 2024 pitching staff rotation that muscled the Braves to the playoffs—pairing with Chris Sale. The two southpaws combined to create a deadly 1–2 punch.
Spotrac’s Calculated Market Value placed Fried on a six-year, $136 million deal. His value average is around that of other pitchers such as Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, and Kevin Gausman. However, Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicts Fried’s new deal will go north of $150 million and nearly $175 million. Potential suitors for the lefty are the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox, but any team that needs starting pitching will reach out. The New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and other big market teams will contact the two-time All-Star. The Braves are very stingy when paying big deals and at the end of their contract. Alex Anthopoulos could change his mantra and pull the trigger on a big deal to keep a championship window open.
Past 11 starts for Max Fried:
▪️73.2 innings
▪️1.95 ERA
▪️68 strikeouts
▪️18 walksAce things. pic.twitter.com/PGrzZ2MHQE
— Braves On FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSNBraves) June 23, 2024
Time to Say Goodbye to Uncle Chuck
Charlie Morton‘s time in baseball could be coming to an end. The soon-to-be 41-year-old drafted by the Braves in 2002 is on his last stand as a pitcher. His availability and reliability helped Uncle Chuck become a lasting major league ballplayer since 2008. After the postseason, the two-time World Series champion spoke on the importance of being a father. The team and fans expect Morton to retire, barring any drastic changes. With Morton outside the rotation, the Braves need a young pitcher to step up and fill the innings that Charlie used to. If so, who steps up? Hurston Waldrep, Ian Anderson, and Bryce Elderare all options for the Braves to consider. Someone will come in to fill the Braves’ need of innings.
Charlie Morton vs. Joey Gallo (Career)
21 ABs, .000 batting average, 17 Strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/iZQBajYe1U
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 24, 2024
The Braves’ Next Shortstop
The Braves have two legitimate players in the middle of the defense. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris both suffered injuries that caused them to miss several months. Sean Murphy’s oblique strain also hurt him and could be the issue that caused his decline in 2024. Orlando Arcia did not have a good year and played healthy in 2024. In 157 games, Arcia hit .218 and had an OPS of .625. In a best-case scenario, Arcia will not be the starting shortstop for the Braves. The biggest name on the market is Willy Adames. However, a top spender like the Dodgers might outspend all other teams for a shortstop like Adames. The Braves might move on from the 30-year-old Arcia for another name or a young player like Nacho Alvarez Jr.
ORLANDO ARCIA EXTENDS HIS HITTING STREAK TO 13 GAMES WITH HIS FOURTH HOME RUN SINCE SUNDAY‼️‼️👀 pic.twitter.com/bSVEr6ZgyZ
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) August 3, 2024
A Trade in the Works
The team went through a lot of injuries over the last year, causing trades and free-agent pick-ups. To list a few, Eddie Rosario, Whit Merrifield, Gio Urshela, and Adam Duvall. Most of these players were platoon options on the lower end of the star value. As a team, left field continued to be an area of struggle this season. The Braves traded for Jarred Kelenic in the 2023 off-season, but the left-fielder only hit .231. Eddie Rosario went in and out of the Braves team after poor hitting. Duvall played 104 games but only hit .182. The Bravos could look to add another left-field addition to create competition for Kelenic in 2025.
The Braves’ rotation also looks thin, depending on the questions listed above. If Max Fried does not return and Charlie Morton retires, the braves will have some questions to answer surrounding their rotation. Spencer Strider and Chris Sale are the top two. Spencer Schwellenbach picked up his performance in the latter half of the season. Reynaldo Lopez pitched well but did not go enough innings in his starts to extend the bullpen’s rest. A younger player like Hurston Waldrep could round out the fifth. However, the Braves want to contend for the division and World Series again. Having a solid top three is essential in the playoffs. A splash for a starting pitcher is hard to string together but is an option in the winter.
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