Coming into the offseason, it felt like the Braves didn’t have that many tasks to accomplish.
Alex Anthopoulos definitely had to address the outfield, but the pitching staff was in relatively strong shape. Perhaps Atlanta could’ve used a few arms in the rotation and bullpen, but Braves fans desperately wanted Anthopoulos to upgrade one position, in particular — shortstop.
Whether it was the underwhelming performances or the antics, most of Braves Country had hoped Orlando Arcia would start his last game at shortstop in Atlanta. It’s a reality they soon might face, and there are a few factors that must be considered.
Firstly, Arcia’s $2 million price tag makes him extremely affordable. Though he’s a below-average shortstop, it was exaggerated when the rest of the Braves lineup succumbed to injuries. In 2023, the Braves needed Arcia to play good defense and hit a couple of home runs at the bottom of the lineup. He did that. In 2024, they expected the same, but that changed when injuries ravaged Atlanta’s lineup.
Secondly, the lack of options also makes Arcia likely to return. Willy Adames is the top free agent shortstop available, and the Dodgers are expected to make a run at him. If that’s the case, Atlanta can pack up their bags and go home because they can’t and won’t compete on a dollar-for-dollar basis with LA.
If Anthopoulos balked at the idea of paying Dansby Swanson, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Carlos Correa a couple of offseasons ago, I sincerely doubt he’s going to get into a bidding war for the only worthwhile free agent at the position this winter.
Thirdly, and most importantly, the idea of the Braves upgrading the shortstop position should now be seen as a luxury. The Braves now have glaring needs in the outfield, rotation and bullpen.
Beginning in the outfield, the Braves have to, at the very least, grab an everyday starter for right field while Ronald Acuna Jr. works his way back from the ACL injury. They’ll also need a platoon option for left field with Jarred Kelenic.
The rotation also needs an addition or two. Not only will the Braves be without Spencer Strider for a portion of the 2025 season, but they’ll also have to potentially replace the starts of Charlie Morton and Max Fried. That doesn’t even include any unforeseen injuries to Chris Sale, who has battled them for the past few seasons, Reynaldo Lopez, who dealt with fatigue issues in his first season back as a starter, and Spencer Schwellenbach, who has never pitched a full season’s worth of innings.
That’s not it either. With Joe Jimenez sidelined for a significant period, the Braves need a high-leverage reliever to replace him. A.J. Minter leaving in free agency could also leave a massive void in Atlanta’s bullpen.
So, you see, yes, we would all love to replace Orlando Arcia, but the Braves have much bigger fish to fry. It may be a luxury at this point.
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Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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