6 players who could be entering their final days with the Braves (or should be)

The 2024 season is going to come down to the wire for the Atlanta Braves which is causing Braves country's collective blood pressure to go up quite a bit. Catching the Phillies in the division is all but impossible, so Atlanta's playoff hopes hinge on getting one of three highly contested wild card spots. Whether or not they will be successful won't be decided until the final week of the season, Braves fans are already looking forward a bit to what could happen this offseason.

The Braves aren't likely to have a ton of money to play with this offseason as several of their long-term extensions are going to start costing very real money and Atlanta is extremely likely to not only keep Raisel Iglesias for the last year of his contract, but also exercise Marcell Ozuna's option. However, that doesn't mean that there won't be any high profile departures from the Braves this offseason.

Here are the Braves players that may be on their way off the roster after the 2024 season.

It is a given in the game of baseball that there is going to be roster turnover. The goal here isn't going to be identifying every pending free agent or non-tender candidate as there will be a time for that down the line and such an exhaustive list would be premature at this point.

Instead, here is a look at the Braves players who, assuming current trends hold, could be on their way out after the season. Nothing is written in stone here and the reasons vary as to why these guys could be playing elsewhere (or nowhere at all), but these are the Braves that seem like they are on their way out.

Jesse Chavez

This is sort of a freebie. Chavez has been a unique treasure for the Braves and their fans as he always seemed to find his way back to Atlanta and contributed in a meaningful way. In the first half, he actually pitched very well and had some vocal supporters, including his teammates, to make the All-Star Game. Unfortunately, Chavez has struggled in the second half as all of those miles on him seem to have finally caught up with him. Chavez indicated that 2024 could be his last season as a player earlier this year and assuming that holds, he can hold his head high and head into a well-earned retirement.

Luke Jackson

We have covered Jackson's less-than-great return to the Braves, but it is worth pointing out here. While his time with the Braves has been a rollercoaster including a near disaster in Game Six of the 2021 NLCS and a 6.55 ERA in the 11 appearances he has made for the Braves this season, he has been better overall for Atlanta than he is given credit for. Unfortunately, it really doesn't seem like Jackson is anywhere close to the same pitcher anymore after his arm injury as his slider isn't a weapon any longer. Jackson has a club option for $7 million in 2025 and at this point, the Braves just shouldn't exercise it.

Charlie Morton

While he has had his warts the last couple of years, Morton hasn't gotten the love he deserves. Sure, he isn't a frontline starter anymore, but he has been as consistent a 4/5 starter as anyone in baseball in 2023 and 2024. He still strikes guys out and is going to end this season with 150/160ish quality innings under his belt. Unfortunately, he is also 40 years old whose fastball velo is in steady decline. There is no shot the Braves will pay him $20 million again next year and unless he is willing to play for cheap, retiring feels like a much more likely outcome.

AJ Minter

The potential end of Minter's tenure with the Braves is a shame because he feels like a guy who should remain a Brave. He has come up huge for them in the playoffs and he averaged nearly 70 appearances a year from 2021-2023 with a very solid 3.13 ERA while striking out 11.2 batters per nine. Unfortunately, a hip injury that required surgery came at the worst possible time for him as he was set to hit free agency. It wouldn't be crazy to see Atlanta bring him back on a cheap deal in the hope that he can fully recover, but there is a good chance another team will take more of a chance on him based on his track record. Wherever he ends up, we hope Minter kills it.

Adam Duvall

Duvall is another one of those guys that always seems to find his way back to the Braves. Atlanta clearly likes the upside he CAN have at the plate, but those outbursts have been fewer and fewer over the last couple of years thanks in part to being pretty banged up. When the Braves brought him back again in 2024 and he got a real opportunity to play after their outfield was ravaged by injuries, he failed to do much of anything with a .185/.245/.329 slash line in 323 plate appearances. With Ronald Acuna Jr. coming back next year and other, better options in the outfield, it feels like this should be his final run with Atlanta and they should let him walk.

Max Fried

Ah yes, the man of the hour. Just to be clear, Fried has pitched well enough for the Braves to want him back. While he doesn't have the swing and miss that many hope for, he still has a 3.35 ERA and 3.51 FIP in 147.2 innings in 2024. The guy can flat out pitch. However, between the arm injuries he has dealt with in 2023 and 2024, his age, and the fact that the Braves may be priced out of affording Fried at this point, this feels like the end. At the end of the day, an extension probably would have happened already if the two sides were close. Expect Fried to get the qualifying offer, reject it, and then for him to be playing in a different uniform in 2025 as much as it will suck.