This offseason had been moving at a snail's pace league-wide before the recent signings of Yusei Kikuchi and Blake Snell. However, the Atlanta Braves have been sneaky busy not only with their series of moves to purge their payroll this offseason but also in their exploration of the free agent and trade markets for potential fits.
Given the Braves' newfound financial flexibility, they are certainly going to do something of note this offseason. While Alex Anthopoulos does like to have a stash of cash in reserve to make moves at the trade deadline, Atlanta has cleared enough payroll to make at least one significant move and have some money left over before going over the luxury tax for the third straight season becomes a consideration.
So far, that seems to match up with what we are hearing on the rumor mill this offseason. While the Braves seem to be sitting out of Juan Soto's crazy market, they have been connected to a few high-profile free agents and trade targets and appear likely to get at least one of them. However, a few of the names they have been connected to could end up working out poorly.
Soler has been traded and Charlie Morton might not retire. Here is a look at what the Braves might do over the next few weeks and months https://t.co/52tDhgCPo6
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) October 31, 2024
Here are some rumored Braves targets that Atlanta should avoid
To be clear, the Braves acquiring any of these players is not cause for immediate doom and gloom. When the Braves traded for Chris Sale before the 2024 season, expectations were understandably low and Sale went out and won the NL Cy Young and made that deal look like the best bargain of that offseason. However, here are a few names that Atlanta should at least be very, very sure about the price they would be paying and the risk they would be taking on before pulling the trigger.
Cody Bellinger
The Braves could use a lefty-hitting outfielder and the Cubs definitely want to move Cody Bellinger, but that doesn't mean that the proposed connection between the two sides is a good idea for Atlanta. Not only is Bellinger owed $27.5 million in 2025 and has a $25 million player option for 2026, but his batted ball profile trends the last few years are genuinely concerning and he just posted a mediocre season in Chicago when it would have benefitted him a lot financially to put up a strong showing. Unless the Cubs are willing to eat a lot of his salary, the Braves should steer clear.
Charlie Morton
Look, Morton has been outperforming expectations for several years now and, if we are being honest, it would be very on-brand for the 41-year-old hurler to return in 2025 and be a productive pitcher again against all odds. However, Morton's strikeout rate declined significantly in 2024 and his 4.19 ERA in 30 starts was less than inspiring. If Morton wants to run it back one more time on a very cheap or incentive-laden one-year deal, then fine. Otherwise, it feels like the Braves should move on to other rotation options for 2025.
Luis Robert Jr.
Coming into the 2024 season, Robert Jr. appeared to be close to ascending to MLB stardom with the White Sox as he finished second in AL ROY in 2020 and posted an .857 OPS with 38 homers in 2023. However, Robert Jr. dealt with a significant hip injury for the second time in his career last season and he regressed massively in 2024 as a result. Given how earnestly the White Sox have shopped him around, the Braves' potential interest in Robert Jr. needs to come with a long look at his medical records and an honest look at the risk they would be taking on if they trade for him.
Walker Buehler
Buehler is an interesting case because when he is right, he is among the game's top young arms and he certainly got back on the map with his performance during the playoffs. However, the Braves shouldn't ignore the fact that Buehler is coming off the second major elbow surgery of his career and hasn't been genuinely good in the regular season since 2021. Buehler is going to have to settle for a short-term deal which makes a fit in Atlanta more likely, but the Braves would be better served to let another team take the chance on him this time and see if he can return to form.