Braves fans are wondering what Alex Anthopoulos is doing in Smyrna because the club has yet to make a single notable acquisition, and Spring Training is right around the corner.
It would be one thing if Atlanta didn’t have clear and obvious needs, but they do. Each facet of the team could use bolstering. The rotation and bullpen could each use another arm; however, the outfield is where the chief concern lies.
Michael Harris II is the only returning starter from the end of last season. Jarred Kelenic was relegated to a bench role down the stretch, but I can understand giving him a long runway to prove he can contribute in an everyday role after the Braves took on nearly $20 million in salary to acquire him last offseason.
However, that still leaves a void in right field, which will presumably be filled by Ronald Acuna Jr. when he returns. But, I have concerns. What if Acuna isn’t able to play in the field? What if Kelenic doesn’t show improvement? The Braves are then right back where they’ve been in the outfield.
So, what gives? Why are the Braves dormant this winter? Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had one possible explanation for Atlanta’s slow offseason.
The MLB insider noted that the Braves are in the market for a reliever, a postseason-caliber starter, and an outfielder. However, the timelines of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. are seemingly impacting the way Alex Anthopoulos is approaching the offseason.
“According to sources briefed on the club’s thinking, is that Strider and Acuña could return sooner rather than later.
Strider, who underwent season-ending surgery April 12 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, is expected to fully participate in spring training. His procedure included the insertion of an internal brace, which can accelerate a pitcher’s return from a UCL repair. Anthopoulos acknowledged in November that neither Strider nor Acuña would be ready for Opening Day. But barring setbacks, Strider might miss only a month or so,” Rosenthal wrote.
If Strider were healthy entering this season, the rotation wouldn’t be as big of a concern. I’m of the opinion that Spencer Schwellenbach will step into the role that Max Fried occupied for so many years, but even still, the youngster has never thrown a full season’s worth of innings. Combined with the fatigue concerns of Reynaldo Lopez and Chris Sale’s injury history, the rotation could be volatile.
“The outlook for Acuña, at least at this point, is similar to Strider’s. When Acuña underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee in 2021, he returned in a little over nine months. The same timeline in his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee would put him on target to start playing again in mid-March. But the Braves want to go at a slower pace this time, knowing Acuña perhaps came back too quickly in ‘22.
A return by Acuña say, at the end of April, would give him six additional weeks to recover. The Braves clearly would need another outfielder in the interim, but that player likely would be reduced to a backup role once Acuña was activated. Few players at this stage of the offseason are jumping at such roles,” Rosenthal added.
If Ronald Acuna Jr. were to miss just six weeks and then return to the field, able to play in an everyday role, the Braves are right to slow play the outfielder market. However, again, that feels like wishful thinking.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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