Unlike other teams in the league, the Braves aren't pressured into making any moves. They have a record-breaking offense and a solid rotation- the makings of a World Series contender. Even so, the Braves could still plan to add more pieces to an already outstanding team.
Bullpen Bolster
While the Braves bullpen isn't necessarily a problem, they can still add one more piece to take it from great to elite. It is important to keep in mind that they do not need to add someone to carry the bullpen, just one more guy to polish it up.
Someone who perfectly fits that description is the young, fire-balling right-hander, Jordan Hicks. The 27-year-old has steadily improved over his six-year career and still has more room for development. He would be a cost-effective addition and could progress into being a great setup man for Iglesias.
Hicks spent time with the Cardinals and Blue Jays in 2023 and completed the year with a 3.29 ERA/3.22 FIP over 65.2 innings. He struck out 81 batters while walking 32 of them, earning him a 4.4 BB/9 rate. That's one thing the Braves would want improved if they added Hicks to the bullpen.
Contrary to the not-too-pricey Jordan Hicks, there is still one more big fish reliever on the market, this being Josh Hader. While the Braves don't necessarily need Hader, signing him would remove any doubts about the bullpen. While they aren't currently the favorite to nab the daunting closer, it is still believed by many that the Braves may be among the top teams bidding for him.
Hader will command a high price simply due to how effective he was in 2023 as he had an All-Star-worthy season. His 1.28 ERA was the second lowest of his career as he provided San Diego with 56.1 innings and 33 saves while striking out 85 and walking 30 batters.
So the walk rate is pretty high at 4.8 per nine innings but his 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings is pretty impressive. Hader will make a difference wherever he lands but will likely receive a multi-year contract worth at least $100 million.
Unless AA feels his addition moves the needle enough to warrant that price tag, I won't bet on it becoming a reality for Atlanta.
Final Rotation Piece
While there may be talks to stack up other parts of the team, all eyes have been on the rotation. Similar to the bullpen, it isn't in a rough spot, but it is lacking that last piece to make it elite. Many names come to mind in this conversation: Brandon Woodruff, Blake Snell, and even Jordan Montgomery. These would all be pricey asks for a rotation seeking out one more solid arm.
Even a trade for Dylan Cease is on the table but as he is still young and carries an affordable contract, the price will not be cheap and it would further reduce the depth the Braves have built up.
One player that would fit within Atlanta's budget and be an electric addition to the rotation is the always-intense Marcus Stroman. The 32-year-old has seemed to keep his nasty stuff over his nine-year career and isn't showing any signs of a drop in performance. The All-Star veteran would add much-needed firepower to the bottom of the rotation.
2 Free Agents the Braves should avoid
While any additions are welcome to a competing team, some free agents should be avoided. The first one is the current NL Cy Young, Blake Snell. While Snell would be a huge addition to any rotation, his price will not make him worth it in the long run for the Braves, as they do not need to shell out that much money for a final rotation starter.
The only other question mark on the team is in left field. This may raise an eyebrow about outfielder Cody Bellinger. This is an absolute no-go for reasons similar to Snell. The Braves have a historic offense, and they have no reason to overpay for an outfielder that isn't a necessity. Along with that, Atlanta snagged Seattle's Jarred Kelenic and he is most likely who they'll be testing out in left field.
While these additions are welcome, they aren't necessary to set the Braves over the top. They have almost the same roster that won over 100 games in 2023 and set records every chance they got. Any thing else we get in the offseason is just icing on the cake.