Despite not looking like it in the postseason, the Braves rotation for next season is in a fantastic spot. Max Fried and Spencer Strider are an elite one-two punch, and Kyle Wright came into his own as a legitimate frontline arm this year. The Braves are also bringing back Charlie Morton, leaving just one spot open in the rotation unless something changes, and they have a bevy of options to choose from. The most notable of which are Mike Soroka and Ian Anderson.
Alex Anthopoulos was asked about the status of those two in his exit interview, and it sounds like both of them are here to stay.
Anthopouos said Soroka and Ian A. are under club control, didn't indicate any question about them returning. Said would "definitely" keep channels open with FA Luke Jackson, who spent entire season with team while rehabbing, even made some trips, because of his value to clubhouse
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) October 16, 2022
Anderson is under team control for one more season before he even hits his first year of arbitration. He also has several options left, so there was never a question of whether or not he will return for 2023. A rotation spot is far from a guarantee, but he’ll be a part of the organization.
Soroka will once again head to arbitration, but he’s only projected to fetch around $3 million, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he settled for less after missing the entire 2022 campaign once again. That kind of money is pennies for the sort of upside he brings, and Anthopoulos pointed out that he believes Soroka will be a substantial piece of the puzzle in 2023.
#Braves' Anthopoulos thinks that Mike Soroka, who has missed two seasons recovering from twice-torn Achilles, and reliever Kirby Yates, who missed much of 2 seasons after TJ surgery, will benefit from normal offseason (instead of constant rehab) and be "huge adds" for ATL in 2023
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) October 17, 2022
I have a lot of faith in Mike Soroka and Ian Anderson contributing in 2023, and you can never have enough pitching depth, but they’re both going to have to fight hard to earn a roster spot. The Braves still have Jake Odorizzi under contract, and AAA guys like Kyle Muller, Bryce Elder, Jared Shuster, Huascar Ynoa, and Freddy Tarnok are all going to be battling for that final rotation spot. Given the logjam, it wouldn’t surprise me if one or several of these young arms are moved during the offseason.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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