A popular debate among Braves fans is what is the club’s biggest need this offseason? A case could be made for the outfield, as Michael Harris II is really the only proven guy on the roster that is set to be healthy on Opening Day. However, the Braves also only have three proven starting pitchers healthy, and that’s not nearly enough for the grind of a 162-game season.
Both areas must be added to this winter, and the free agent market is drying up fast. Nearly all of the top starting pitchers have already signed, outside of Corbin Burnes, whom the Braves have not shown any interest. But there are at least some worthwhile arms with some upside that could bring a lot to the table.
The outfield free agent market, however, is incredibly discouraging. With several names off the board, there are really only three starting caliber outfield free agents remaining — Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernandez, and Jurickson Profar. To make things even more bleak, the belief since the start of free agency is that Teoscar Hernandez will re-sign with the Dodgers. He’s made it clear that’s where he wants to be, there’s a place for him in Los Angeles, and they have all the money in the world to do what they want, which is to become the first club to win back-to-back World Series in over two decades.
That leaves Anthony Santander and Jurickson Profar, neither of which stand out as typical Braves free agent targets. Santander is likely to sign the largest contract of any outfielder in this year’s free agent class, with many projecting he could eclipse $100 million. That’s an extraordinarily high price tag for a 30-year-old who really only does one thing well, which is hit for power. Santander doesn’t get on base at a high clip, doesn’t run the bases well, and is a well below average defensive player. It would be shocking to see Alex Anthopoulos make him the highest-paid free agent signing of his tenure.
Meanwhile, Jurickson Profar will be 32 next season and is coming off the best season of his 11-year MLB career. Perhaps he finally figured something out, or maybe this year was just a flash in the pan, but the Braves paying to find out feels extremely unlikely.
If Alex Anthopoulos is to make a move for a starting caliber outfielder, which the Braves desperately need, finding a trade is the best course of action. There are a few intriguing names rumored to be available, like Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs. But based on Anthopoulos’ track record, the answer is probably a player nobody else is even considering right now.
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Photo: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
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