Alex Anthopoulos has been uncharacteristically quiet this offseason, and the amount of available players shrinks by the day. Teams around the league are making it clear that they will pony up the dough for one position in particular...starting pitchers.
Unfortunately, the run on starting pitchers being signed isn't a great outcome for a Braves team looking to add to the rotation. Yesterday, another possible pitcher for Atlanta came off the market when Shane Bieber went back to Cleveland.
Free agent pitchers getting big paydays could mean Braves pivoting to trade market
The stove is on fire for pitchers so much so that the A's are handing out the biggest contract in franchise history for a middle-tier free agent in Luis Severino. The more of these 2nd and 3rd tier free agent starting pitchers that sign, the more likely it becomes that the Braves turn to the trade market.
Breaking: Right-hander Luis Severino and the A’s are in agreement on a three-year, $67 million contract, sources tell @JeffPassan.
— ESPN (@espn) December 5, 2024
It is the largest guarantee in the history of the A’s franchise. pic.twitter.com/9JjST5OfdP
One big name has already signed in Blake Snell, but with the money some of these guys are getting you have to imagine Corbin Burnes and Max Fried's agent is smiling ear to ear. Unless Atlanta shocks us and gets into a Fried bidding war they likely won't be shelling out the kind of money needed to add top of the rotation level talent to the roster.
The Braves have a ton of innings to replace in Max Fried and Charlier Morton, but outside of the Eovaldi rumors Atlanta hasn't been linked to any starting pitchers that would excite fans. With the way this offseason has unfolded it may take another Alex Anthopoulos shock trade to get the talent they need to stabilize the rotation for 2025. If they are unable to do either Atlanta will be taking a major gamble on their young arms.
As of this morning Sean Manaea, Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, and Nathan Eovaldi are the only remaining free agent starters who would garner real money and insert into the middle of a talented rotation. Time will tell if Anthopoulos will be in the market on any of these guys, but as we can see free agent pitchers are selling like hot cakes. If the Braves don't do something soon they could have a big question mark on their roster come spring.