With Spring Training right around the corner, Braves Country is getting impatient with Alex Anthopoulos, but the biggest names in the business expect moves are coming down the pike.
Ken Rosenthal reported recently that the Braves are in the market for a reliever, a postseason-caliber starter, and an outfielder. They’ve been linked to Tanner Scott, but they will have stiff competition, with the Dodgers and Mets connected to the All-Star closer as well.
There are still plenty of options to fill the Braves needs, and David Schoenfield believes Atlanta is a fit for a future Hall of Famer in Max Scherzer, who at this point in his career is considered an under-the-radar free agent.
“Scherzer needs no introduction, other than to ask: Is there anything left in the tank? He turns 41 in July and was effective in 2024, but made just nine starts and had a 3.95 ERA. However, he’s just one season removed from a 3-WAR 2023 — and you never want to bet against his competitiveness,” the ESPN pundit wrote.
While Scherzer is well past his prime, there’s certainly a chance he can contribute at the back of Atlanta’s rotation, a role that many assumed Charlie Morton would occupy. Morton ended up signing a one-year, $15 million deal to join the Orioles, which seems to be the going rate for these back-of-the-rotation veterans.
Justin Verlander, who is also a future Hall of Famer, just inked a one-year, $15 million deal with the Giants. I’d assume Scherzer is in line for a similiar contract, if not more, as Schoenfield notes. — “His strikeout rate is a little higher while Verlander’s has plummeted over the past two seasons. ”
The Braves are quite familiar with Max Scherzer. He spent nine seasons in the NL East with the Nationals and Mets. Of course, they might prefer someone with a higher floor, but similar to Chris Sale, if Scherzer is fully healthy, it has the potential of being a home run free agent signing.
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Photographer: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
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