The Atlanta Braves took a very patient approach this offseason to put it mildly. They shed payroll to start the offseason, but it took until the month of January for them to finally add a player of note when they signed outfielder Jurickson Profar. While not the blockbuster offseason that some fans were hoping for, it was an impact move at an area of need.
The Braves do have other areas of their roster that could use some love, however. Shortstop is a popular complaint among Atlanta fans, but the free agent pool at short was pretty shallow after Willy Adames and upgrading there seems unlikely this offseason. One area that the Braves could, and may be should, address is their pitching staff.
While the Braves have internal options available to them, losing both Max Fried and Charlie Morton from their rotation as well as AJ Minter among others from their bullpen will be difficult to recover from given their current options. That quest just got enough more difficult with the word that the Tigers signed Jack Flaherty.
Jack Flaherty's 2Ks in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/EizEUYjhVz
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 14, 2024
Braves running out of offseason options after Jack Flaherty signs with the Tigers
Flaherty felt like a natural fit for the Braves especially after he stopped pursuing a long-term deal. While he certainly has his warts (injury history, rollercoaster performances the last few years, etc.), Flaherty would have been an upgrade over the current uncertainty in Atlanta's rotation especially while Spencer Strider is out.
The terms of Flaherty's deal also seem like something the Braves should have been willing to offer and perhaps they did. A two-year deal at a pretty reasonable AAV with an opt-out after the first year would have limited the long-term risk on the Braves' side and given Flaherty a chance to continue rebuilding his value on a World Series contender before he takes another crack at free agency.
It is possible that the Braves just thought the risks in Flaherty's profile just weren't worth it especially when they have guys like AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep waiting in the wings. There is also a chance that Atlanta has their eyes set on a bigger deal for a guy like Dylan Cease or Michael King instead. We'll know soon enough what the Braves' plans are because time is running out before pitchers and catchers report later this month.