Sometimes free agents just fit the profile of what Alex Anthopoulos looks for in a player. The Braves' General Manager has a way of acquiring similar skill sets, or even reuniting with former players from time to time. The upcoming free agent class has some stars, but as we know, Alex Anthopoulos loves a good value deal when he can find one.
That is increasingly evident when Anthopoulos is searching for a starting pitcher. During the Anthopoulos era, the Braves have yet to splurge on a big-ticket free agent starter. With similar expectations this winter, we can preemptively identify some names that might fall in Anthopoulos' historical preferences. The first name we'll highlight that fits this criteria is starting pitcher Matthew Boyd.
Matthew Boyd, K'ing the Side in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/Sc6Z3zhRnZ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 7, 2026
Why the Braves could look to sign Matthew Boyd this offseason
If you were looking for a left-handed version of Tyler Mahle, Matthew Boyd could be the veteran starter who qualifies. Boyd will pitch in his 13th season in 2027, and he is coming off an interesting year with the Cubs. Boyd was an All-Star in 2025 with Chicago, but a tough first-half this season warped his season numbers a bit.
In just over 126 innings this season, Boyd posted a 3.91 ERA, 4.21 FIP, and 1.0 bWAR. The low arm slot lefty struggled through his first four starts of the year, but after posting a 3.57 ERA post All-Star break Boyd enters free agency with some momentum.
Still, because Boyd will pitch next season as a 36-year-old, landing a long-term deal seems very improbable. This is where Anthopoulos generally likes to enter the party with a one or two-year offer. For Boyd, Atlanta's track record with pitchers speaks for itself.
Boyd relies on a five-pitch mix to navigate lineups, as his stuff if far from overpowering these days. Boyd does not miss a ton of bats, but his above average walk rate keeps the traffic on the bases manageable. It is undeniable that the Braves need durable starting pitchers next year. Boyd fits perfectly into the backend rotation innings eater role Anthopoulos will be looking to add.
Perhaps the largest hurdle here is the fact that Boyd is a Scott Boras client. Not that being a Boras client rules out an Atlanta signing Boyd entirely, but Boras' preference to wait out the market has certainly never fit Alex Anthopoulos' free agent style. So then comes the question: Which of Matthew Boyd's traits will prove more important to Alex Anthopoulos?
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