2. It’s Possible, but Don’t Count on It
The second category contains three pitchers, each of whom you could certainly argue could be options for the Braves this offseason, but a potential signing isn’t a given and depends on various factors.
Clayton Kershaw
Arguably the biggest potential name in this category is Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young award winner who will potentially pitch in a different uniform that doesn’t say “Dodgers” in 2022 for the first time in his 14-year career.
After a 2021 season that was shortened due to injuries, Kershaw still posted a strong 3.55 ERA and 29.5 K% across 22 starts, and is still an elite starter when healthy. There will obviously be injury concerns for the 33-year-old southpaw, but if the future Hall of Famer isn’t returning to Los Angeles in 2022, the Braves should join other contenders in showing interest this offseason.
Justin Verlander
There have already been a few murmurs so far this offseason surrounding the Braves and the two-time Cy Young winner, but could a deal actually happen?
Verlander missed all of the 2021 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but was truly-elite back in 2019, a year in which the right-hander won the Cy Young with a 2.58 ERA. A short-term, high AAV deal is something that the Braves have done before, and while it would surely be a big risk to take on a 39-year-old that essentially hasn’t pitched in two seasons, there’s no-denying how impactful a healthy Verlander could be for the Braves.
Marcus Stroman
Another potential option for the Braves could be Stroman, but the 30-year-old’s market could play-out similarly to Gausman and Ray previously.
Pitching on the QO this past season, Stroman posted an impressive 3.02 ERA with a 21.6 K% across 33 starts with the Mets, and is now ineligible to receive a QO this offseason making the right-hander a full free agent. While MLBTR projects Stroman to receive a multi-year deal, could the right-hander possibly land in Atlanta on a potential one-to-two year deal?