This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ATLANTA -- We’re less than three weeks from the Braves’ first Spring Training workout and a little more than four weeks from their Grapefruit League season opener.
I’ll now give you a split-second to review all of the Braves’ key offseason additions. OK, that was more than enough time to read Bryan De La Cruz.
Baseball executives have long said they have until Opening Day to complete their offseason roster reconstruction process. That’s true. You can always find valuable fillers like Josh Tomlin and Jesse Chavez at the end of camp. You can also be reminded of how significantly free agents struggle after coming to camp late. See Adam Duvall and Jordan Montgomery.
Speaking of Montgomery, the D-backs would still love to deal him and his $22.5 million salary for the upcoming season. But it’s not easy to move this kind of money when it’s attached to a pitcher who posted a 6.23 ERA over 21 starts and dealt with a knee ailment last year. He spent the season’s final six weeks as a reliever.
While Montgomery might not be the best fit, the Braves do seemingly have the financial means to make a significant payroll addition. 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.
We know the Braves had interest in Nathan Eovaldi, who was always going to draw an average annual value of $20 million-plus. We also know they had agreed to give Jeff Hoffman at least $9 million per year with the five-year deal that was nixed because of concerns about his shoulder.
So, while the offseason money trail has indicated the Braves have wanted to cut costs, it seems like they are at least willing to spend some money. But one of the worst things a sports executive can do is to spend just to spend.
So, assuming the Dodgers don’t sign each of the remaining free agents, is there anything worth the Braves exploring on the free-agent market?
Jurickson Profar resurrected his career while hitting 24 homers and constructing an .839 OPS with the Padres in 2024. Profar had just two previous full seasons during which he produced an OPS+ of 100 or better. If the price and years are right, it might be a gamble worth taking. But is it worth taking a three-year gamble on him, when you can just stick with the similar gamble you are taking on the younger Jarred Kelenic, whose age creates more upside?
Kelenic’s presence may limit the Braves' search to free-agent outfielders willing to take a one-year deal. There’s reason to argue Anthopoulos would also seek short-term deals with free-agent starters or relievers.
Or, after taking another look at the remaining free agents, maybe there’s reason to believe Anthopoulos is more likely to use the trade market to bolster his roster.
It still feels like the greater needs rest with adding an outfielder and a starting pitcher. Non-roster invitees like Chasen Shreve will combine with the likes of Angel Perdomo and create a healthy Spring Training competition for the final bullpen spots.
Sometimes it’s just best to find the hot hand and stick with it when it comes to bullpen construction. The latest reminder of the unpredictability of the relief role was witnessed with the most recent unveiling of MLB Network’s Top 10 relievers. Eight of the 10 pitchers, including Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, weren’t even on the list last year.