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Atlanta Braves Top 5 Free Agent Pitching Targets Outside of Cole and Strasburg

By Seth Carter

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on July 12, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MAY 30: Alex Wood #58 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his MLB debut and a 11-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays with Brian McCann #16 at Turner Field on May 30, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 30: Alex Wood #58 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates his MLB debut and a 11-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays with Brian McCann #16 at Turner Field on May 30, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Alex Wood

2020 Age: 29
Qualifying Offer: No
Projected Contract: One year, $8MM

2019 Stats
ERA: 5.80
WHIP: 1.40
BB/9: 2.3
Innings per Start: 5.0
Innings Pitched: 35.2
Strikeouts: 30
Walks: 9

Alex Wood is coming off a very disappointing season. The Reds traded for him with anticipation they were receiving the player from the previous two seasons. Between 2017-2018 with the Dodgers, Wood laid down a smooth 3.20 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP during that time span. He was an All-Star in 2017 and was even received some CY Young votes.

He was only able to make seven starts for the Reds in 2019, while he battled back issues all year. Wood has always been an injury risk and has never hit the 200 IP mark in a season. In 839 career innings, he has posted a 3.40 ERA. With numbers like that, had he been healthy in 2019 you have to think his contract value would have slotted in around Odorizzi and Hamels.

Wood will only be 29 in 2020, if he’s recovered from the back injury that bothered him last year, he could be the absolute best value on the market. He’ll most likely be looking for a one-year deal to prove his health, much like Donaldson did last year… only Wood will come with a much, much lower price tag.

With the way things currently stand, the Braves need another left-handed option for the rotation. Wood brings a middle of the rotation price tag with near top of the rotation upside. His projected $8 million contract would be perfect to pair with another higher-priced target.

Regardless of which hand is dominant over the other, Wood is a very good starting pitcher. If he’s ready to move past 2019, the rest of the back of his baseball card is one of the better ones you’ll find.

Note: I tried to leave out the fact that he made his debut in 2013 with the Braves. I tried to present this strictly based on the potential return on investment of his signing. With that being said…Wouldn’t it be awesome to bring him back home?

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