The Atlanta Braves find themselves in a unique situation in which most of their team is returning for 2024. There wasn't a massive need going into the offseason besides improving pitching depth.
Alex Anthopoulos hasn't made the "big splash" everyone has likely been hoping for. However, he has added the necessary pieces to improve the aforementioned pitching depth.
Starting pitching has certainly been the talk of the offseason as a good bit of Braves fans feel there is a need to add another quality starter to the mix. While that certainly wouldn't hurt, there's plenty of reason for Atlanta's front office to believe they are fine with in-house options.
Atlanta Braves offseason so far
AA kicked things off by extending Pierce Johnson and Joe Jimenez. Both pitchers ended up being very important parts of the Atlanta bullpen in 2023 and earned their extensions. Atlanta also exercised their team option to bring back Charlie Morton.
With two cornerstone bullpen options and one starting option secured, AA knew there was more to do to improve an already talented bullpen with a couple of holes to fill.
This led to a five-player trade for LHP Aaron Bummer. The Braves sent Michael Soroka, Nicky Lopez, Jared Shuster, Braden Shewmake, and Riley Gowens to the White Sox in return. Bummer gives the Braves a very nice left-handed option in the late innings.
A few days later RHP Reynaldo Lopez was brought over to Atlanta on a 3-year, $30 million deal. He was the first free agent signed by the Braves during the offseason. It was announced shortly after that Lopez would be stretched out with the potential to fill a starting role for Atlanta. If not, he will be a great addition to the relief core.
Jarred Kelenic was then acquired from the Mariners along with Marco Gonzales and Evan White. The Braves took on a couple of bad contracts to acquire five years of control for Kelenic who has so much potential and could fill the left-field void for the Braves.
Gonzales and White were both later moved as they were never a part of Atlanta's plans in 2024. Gonzales was traded to the Pirates for a player to be named later. The Braves did move White to the Angels in exchange for David Fletcher and Max Stassi. Fletcher was the centerpiece of that move. Stassi was later moved.
Lastly, lefty flamethrower Ray Kerr was acquired from the Padres and provides Atlanta with another excellent option out of the bullpen. So, as you see, pitching has been the main focus of the offseason but not in the way many expected. Atlanta feels good about where they are regardless of any outside concerns.