Thus far, the biggest domino of the offseason has fallen in the form of Blake Snell signing a deal with the Dodgers, and it certainly impacts the Braves.
A couple of free agent targets will now surely not be returning to Los Angeles and are available if Atlanta is intrigued. “It probably means that Walker Buehler and Jack Flaherty won’t be back in 2025, based on the market dynamics,” Jon Morosi said.
The Braves have been linked to Buehler, but Flaherty also makes some sense.
Flaherty took a one-year deal with the Tigers last season but was traded to the Dodgers in July. In total, he went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 162 innings.
Buehler, on the other hand, didn’t have a lot of success in his first season back since Tommy John surgery, finishing with a 1-6 record, 5.38 ERA, and 1.55 WHIP, but he did close the playoffs with 13 straight scoreless innings.
With the Dodgers pouring significant resources into Snell, the thought is they’ve taken themselves out of the running for Buehler and Flaherty, but I’m not sure that I’m buying that line of thinking.
Los Angeles’ deferred payments to its stars have effectively stretched their current dollar, and it continued with Blake Snell. The Dodgers will find a way to re-sign one or both if they’re determined.
The Braves will have to be creative in their acquisitions, with Walker Buehler making a lot of sense because of his high upside. But again, if the Dodgers want him back, there’s virtually no way I can see Alex Anthopoulos coming away with the former ace of Los Angeles’ staff.
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Photographer: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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