The MLB Hot Stove is expected to explode in the not-too-distant future, and the Braves have positioned themselves to be right in the middle of it after several cost-cutting measures to begin the offseason.
Among the markets where the Braves are expected to be aggressive, it begins with starting pitching. Max Fried and Charlie Morton are both free agents and while Atlanta would like to bring them back, neither of them is a sure thing. On top of that, Spencer Strider will not be ready for Opening Day after undergoing surgery on a torn UCL in April, adding even more concern as the season approaches.
“Anthopoulos typically addresses his offseason needs quickly. He figures to be aggressive in the starting pitching and possibly the relief markets. But with the outfielders, he need not rush. The secondary options likely will need to wait for Soto and Co. to come off the board. And given the number that is available, bargains eventually should emerge,” Rosenthal recently wrote for The Athletic.
Whether it be Max Fried or another marquee free agent, the Braves appear eager to address their rotation sooner rather than later. A name that has been linked to them since the beginning of the offseason is two-time World Series champion Nathan Eovaldi, who MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently referred to as the ideal free agent target for Atlanta.
Braves: Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
Max Fried is likely headed elsewhere as a free agent, while Charlie Morton is no lock to return to the Braves. With Spencer Strider’s timetable for 2025 unclear, Atlanta could use another starter to join Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach in the rotation, and Eovaldi’s experience and track record would make him a sound choice.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman was the first to report the Braves are interested in Eovaldi, and it’s for all of the same reasons they were fond of Charlie Morton a few years back. Eovaldi is a workhorse that has aged like a fine wine and pitched his best in October. Over 79.2 postseason innings, he owns a 3.05 ERA, helping both the Red Sox and Rangers to World Series victories.
However, Nathan Eovaldi is going to require a much more significant investment than Charlie Morton did four years ago, when he signed a one-year deal with the Braves worth less than $20 million. Given the current state of the starting pitching market, Eovaldi could be looking at a contract in the three-year range worth well over $20 million annually. That’s not cheap, but it’s substantially less risky than handing out a six or seven-year contract to Max Fried.
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Photo: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
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