Braves Spring Training kicks off today, but there are still concerns about Atlanta’s pitching staff.
Following the Jurickson Profar signing, which felt like a necessity, fans were in wait-and-see mode, anxious for another Alex Anthopoulos move. The rotation could use another reliable arm, which could kill two birds with one stone.
If the Braves acquired a starter, it could enable Snitker to use Reynaldo Lopez or Grant Holmes out of the bullpen. Of course, the Braves could just acquire another reliever and leave the rotation as currently constructed. The Braves have the money, that’s for sure.
“One source recently suggested the Braves have approximately $33 million to spend this offseason. This would put them slightly over the luxury tax’s first threshold, a hurdle president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said he’s willing to clear,” Bowman wrote before the signing of Jurickson Profar.
And Anthopoulos already told Braves reporters that a deal could bleed into Spring Training, so who is still available?
As far as a starter that’s good enough to “block” Grant Holmes or Ian Anderson, Nick Pivetta is one name. The 32-year-old has never finished a full season with an ERA below 4.00, but he is coming off a season where he fanned 172 batters to only 36 free passes. That’s desirable stuff, but signing him comes with a stipulation — Pivetta’s qualifying offer and its accompanying draft-pick compensation.
David Robertson could be a high-leverage target, and so could Kyle Finnegan, who has 88 saves over the last four seasons. Andrew Chafin, Colin Poche, Brooks Raley, old Braves friend Drew Smyly, and Jalen Beeks are all available. Scott Barlow, Craig Kimbrel, and Joe Kelly are still out there as well, and all have experience pitching in big games.
There are plenty of options remaining for the Braves to bolster their pitching staff even with Spring Training upon us. I would expect Alex Anthopoulos to make at least one more significant addition before Opening Day.
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David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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