Roster turnover from year to year is pretty much a guarantee. The Atlanta Braves won 104 games in the 2023 regular season, but that didn't mean they were going to roll the same guys out there again in 2024. As we know, this offseason Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has been turning over every stone in an attempt to build a World Series roster.
To make the moves that he has, AA had to depart with some key pieces from the talented 2023 roster. Some guys we will miss more than others, so let's make our best attempt at determining which guys we will be happy are playing elsewhere in 2024, and which players we wish still had on a Braves uniform.
3 Braves players we won't be missing
Kirby Yates
The veteran reliever pitched a boatload of high-leverage innings for Atlanta last year. And just about every single outing felt stressful to watch as a fan. It's not that Yates was ineffective last season, because he wasn't, it is more about his flaw.
That being the big no-no for all relief pitchers...walks. Yates posted a 14.6 BB% last year, which is just entirely too high for a high-leverage reliever. This is why he had a -0.1 fWAR despite having a 3.28 ERA in just over 60 innings.
Those command issues are precisely why the Braves declined his $5.5 million option for 2024, and allowed him to hit free agency instead. Yates would go on to sign with the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers in early December.
Jared Shuster
Former first round pick in 2020, Jared Shuster never felt like a prospect many fans could get behind. His very hittable fastball, and inability to strikeout guys didn't give him much of a ceiling as a member of the Braves rotation.
Yes, he impressed at Spring Training last year, but Shuster was only on the 2023 Opening Day roster because of the injuries elsewhere in the rotation. Those injuries are exactly why he was pressed into 11 starts last year, all of which felt more uninspiring than the last.
Now a member of the Chicago White Sox thanks to the deal that brought Aaron Bummer to Atlanta, we wish Shuster success in the windy city. However if he wants to lower his 6.13 xFIP and 5.81 ERA from 2023, he's going to have to figure out how to punch more guys out at the major league level.
Eddie Rosario
This one even hurts to type out. It's not that Braves fans will be glad Rosario is gone, because Eddie will always be beloved in Atlanta for what he did in the 2021 postseason. It's more about the excitement of new left fielder Jarred Kelenic and his huge potential.
At this point we knew who Eddie Rosario was right now in his career. A streaky left-handed bat who you couldn't commit to full-time against LHP's, and a bad defender in LF (despite being nominated for a Gold Glove).
Those dull areas of 32 year-old Eddie Rosario's game, were just too much to justify picking up his $9 million club option for 2024. Especially, when you consider Alex Anthopoulos was able to acquire the Braves potential left fielder of the future for a bargain. It was just time to move in a new direction, and right now you're seeing why AA is as brilliant as they come. Kelenic is getting rave reviews about fitting into the clubhouse, while our 2021 postseason hero remains a free agent looking for a new squad to suit up for.
Mentioned this video the other day and many had not seen it. All 14 of Eddie Rosario’s hits in the NLCS, which tied the all time recordpic.twitter.com/r2j5t85KNz
— Scott Coleman (@scottcoleman55) February 2, 2022
Only time will tell if Kelenic lives up to the production the Braves desire in left field, as well as exactly where and how well Eddie Rosario plays in 2024. However, Braves fans do know one thing, and that is Atlanta will always have a special place in their hearts for super Eddie Rosario.
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