The Atlanta Braves have been among the busiest clubs in the offseason, and if they so want, they still have time to get more done.
Most people in the league would probably view the NL East’s actions as addressing their needs for 2024 after seeing what they did. That isn’t the case, though.
The Athletic just published a list rating each team’s offseason and designating some as winners and others as losers (subscription needed).
The Athletic gave the Atlanta Braves a “C” rating even though they made a lot of changes to meet their demands. The Braves addressed needs without going over budget, even if they didn’t sign any high-profile free agents like Aaron Nola or Shohei Ohtani.
Although a “C” is a decent grade—it’s not the lowest—I wouldn’t say it’s justified given that they gave Atlanta’s Philadelphia opponent a “B”.
The strange part about that choice is that the Phillies haven’t really accomplished much but bring Aaron Nola back. Without adding any depth to their bullpen, they have effectively brought back the same team. Gregory Soto is the only pitcher they have available for minor league play. They’ll need to work things out fast if something goes wrong.
Although the Phillies are a strong team, it is unclear why their summer actions deserve a “B” grade but the Braves’ do not. Although Philadelphia has a strong core and has performed admirably when it matters most, Atlanta appears to be a more complete club overall.
Soon after the season concluded, the Braves also signed relievers Pierce Johnson and Joe Jimenez. They dealt for Aaron Bummer, a gifted left-handed reliever, from the White Sox. Reynaldo Lopez was signed to a three-year deal with the expectation that he would be a bullpen or rotation option.
To address their left fielding shortage, they made a spectacular but risky trade to acquire Jarred Kelenic from Seattle. After he moved away from the expectation to become the star everyone anticipated him to be, fans are cautiously optimistic that he could have a tremendous season. Given that he has a relationship with Matt Olson and has been receiving advice from the MLB home run leader from 2023, it appears that’s already paying off.
The trade that brought Vaughn Grissom to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Chris Sale had to be the biggest move of all. Atlanta gave traded a young, gifted infielder with enormous potential for a tried-and-true veteran who has recently had trouble staying on the field. Boston paid for the majority of Sale’s salary, so although this was a risky move, it might yield enormous rewards.
The Braves’ struggles over the past two years with starting pitching depth are a valid concern raised in the article.
To imply they put all of their eggs in Chris Sale, though, seems a little naive in my opinion. Yes, he is expected to have a significant role, but Atlanta added more pitching depth throughout the offseason for a purpose. In addition, they have Darius Vines, Huascar Ynoa, Allan Winans, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Bryce Elder, who could all readily fill in if necessary this season.
Atlanta’s front management has been working hard to make sure the team has a solid base to work with while allowing room for flexibility in case the team needs to make changes before the trade deadline. They are just over the third luxury tax tier and have raised payroll once again.
It seems a little unjust to imply that the Braves haven’t done enough to receive at least a “B” grade for the summer. Even if you succeed in the offseason and take all the appropriate actions, bad things can still happen. While there’s no guarantee Atlanta will win the World Series in 2024, these measures give them the best opportunity.
Fans should find comfort in the knowledge that they have an experienced front staff that is aware of what needs to be done, regardless of what transpires at the end of the season.