Christmas Wishlist: 4 presents Braves' fans hope GM Alex Anthopoulos brings very soon

The season of giving is one of the best times of the year. For Atlanta Braves fans, the offseason has felt like a jam-packed 2000s retail store on Black Friday. With Alex Anthopoulos looking for value at every turn, the Braves roster has seen a lot of turnover this winter.

On the night before Christmas we write Santa (Anthopoulos) one last letter. A list of four roster additions we think can make the 2024 Braves roster better than freshly baked cookies and the tastiest glass of milk.

The return of king Jesse

The Atlanta Braves bullpen is one of the deepest in baseball already. Most of Anthopoulos' pre-holiday moves were bringing in bullpen arms. Pierce Johnson and Joe Jimenez were both brought back, as well as a three-year deal to flamethrower Reynaldo Lopez.

Then you get to the trades to acquire a couple lefties in Aaron Bummer and Ray Kerr. Those guys plus the backend stalwarts in Minter and Iglesias, doesn't leave much room for other relievers. With that said, we know how many pitchers are used during a 162 game season. Bringing back the beloved Jesse Chavez on a minor league deal would bring a lot of joy to both the clubhouse and Braves country.

A veteran depth starting pitcher

This is just a stocking stuffer wish for Braves fans. Not necessarily even a pitcher you can put ahead of Elder in the rotation, but it is a needed piece. All offseason fans have been clamoring for AA to add another quality starter to the mix. This may not check the box on the quality department, but it is still a box worth checking.

With a crop of young starters vying for the number 5 spot in the rotation, the addition of a veteran backend of the rotation guy to push those young guys in the spring is welcome. And the good news is there are plenty of free agents that fall into this category. Alex Wood, Zack Greinke, Julio Teheran, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Carlos Carrasco just to name a few.

A right-handed hitting outfielder

As we know the Braves lineup is often composed of the same everyday players for the majority of 162. The old Bobby Cox Sunday lineups filled with backup players, haven't really been a thing under manager Brian Snitker. With that said the Braves still need to build depth to their bench.

In a world with the National League DH, the opportunities for bench guys to get in the game has pretty much boiled down to lopsided games, and unfortunate injuries to the everyday guys. However, one of the key roles on the team is the fourth outfielder role. A versatile guy who can cover ground, and won't kill you at the plate.

Many people would point to Vaughn Grissom, and Forrest Wall for that role. However,, we still don't know what Grissom's role will be in 2024, so trusting him to man three outfield spots is a huge ask. And while I do recognize the value Wall brings with his speed and defense, he's not someone I think AA is eager to hand AB's out to.

If the fourth outfielder isn't an internal guy, we then turn our attention to the outside candidates. Luckily, there is always a plethora of these guys available. Take your pick from Randal Grichuk, Michael Taylor, Adam Duvall, Kyle Lewis, and Robbie Grossman just to name a few.

We singled out these right-handed options with the thought of a 2024 version of Kevin Pillar. A guy who can spell Kelenic in left field against tough lefties, and pinch-hit in key situations seems perfect for this club.