Coming into the offseason, the Braves didn’t have too many glaring needs. That’s changed exponentially over the last couple of days with Joe Jimenez undergoing knee surgery and the confirmation from Alex Anthopoulos that neither Spencer Strider nor Ronald Acuña Jr. will be available on Opening Day. It’s very possible one or both of them miss multiple months of the season, and in the ultra-competitive NL East, that’s going to be a problem if not addressed properly this offseason.
Braves Offseason Needs
- Outfield
- Bullpen
- Starting Pitching
- Shortstop
- Catcher
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The Braves offseason needs have changed considerably in light of recent news. Adding another outfielder, a legitimate starter, now feels like a must. Left field was a black hole last year with Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall. Ramon Laureano saved the day at the end of the season, but he’s a free agent and is not the long-term answer.
Now, right field is also a concern. Acuña may miss a significant chunk of the season, and even when he does return, there’s no way of knowing if he’ll feel comfortable playing in the field. The Braves might need to add two outfielders this offseason, not just one.
Bullpens are often overlooked until they start costing teams games. Over the last two seasons, few teams have boasted a relief core as reliable as Atlanta’s. But with A.J. Minter hitting free agency and Joe Jimenez potentially out for the season, additions must be made, and significant ones at that.
Another starting pitcher should also now be viewed as a must-add for the Braves this offseason. It’s more than possible that Spencer Strider isn’t available until after the All-Star break, and even if he returns early in the season, another arm is needed to round out the rotation. How big the Braves go will likely be determined by when they believe Spencer Strider will be ready. If he’s to miss several months, keep an eye out for a guy like Nathan Eovaldi, who Mark Bowman recently reported is a top free agent target for the Braves.
Shockingly, replacing Orlando Arcia seems more like a luxury rather than a need at this point. Willy Adames would be nice, but with so many other holes, it’s probably best for the Braves to spread out their financial resources rather than spend it all on one guy. Be prepared for Arcia to be the starting shortstop on Opening Day again in 2025.
Lastly, the Braves could be in the market for a cheap veteran backup catcher to replace Travis d’Arnaud. Going with Chadwick Tromp and Drake Baldwin wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but things would get really uncomfortable if Sean Murphy were to go down with an injury early in the season, and the Braves were forced to start two guys with a combined 59 games of MLB experience for an extended period.
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Photographer: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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