While losing franchise icons has become a running theme with the Atlanta Braves in recent years, the 2024-2025 offseason was particularly painful. Since the 2024 season came to a close, Braves fans watched eight members who were key contributors to the 2021 World Series championship leave for new teams.
With spring training games in full swing and each team's photo days in the book, the reality that some of these former Braves staples aren't with the team anymore is truly settling in.
8 former Braves with their new teams
Max Fried (New York Yankees)
In a way, Max Fried leaving the Braves after the 2024 season was nearly a foregone conclusion. The lefty ace dominated during his tenure with Atlanta, and the expectation that he'd get a massive contract was proven correct when he signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the New York Yankees.
Still, anytime one of your star players walks and joins the Evil Empire, it's hard to stomach seeing them in pinstripes for the first time (or the fiftieth), and Fried is most certainly not an exception from this.
A.J. Minter (New York Mets)
Even worse than seeing your star starter joining the New York Yankees is seeing your fan favorite reliever, absolutely beloved by the city, join the heated divisional rival New York Mets. It's hard to blame A.J. Minter, who struggled with injury in 2024, for taking $22 million in guaranteed money.
But seeing Minter in a Mets uniform feels like a bizarre alternate reality that has you desperately trying to wake up. Unfortunately, the Minter Mets reality is one nightmare we won't wake up from.
Charlie Morton (Baltimore Orioles)
In his final few seasons with the Braves, Charlie Morton wasn't the same ace he was when he toughed out another full inning on a broken shin in the World Series, but he was still a solid innings eater he gave the Braves a guaranteed 30 plus starts every season.
While his signing with the Orioles shouldn't illicit as strong of reaction as Minter or Fried, seeing him in his new threads is still an odd sight.
Travis d'Arnaud (Los Angeles Angels)
During his four seasons with the Braves, Travis d'Arnaud became a de facto leader behind the dish and in the clubhouse. When the season ended in San Diego, it was easy to assume we'd get at least one more season with d'Arnaud.
Unfortunately, Atlanta's front office pivoted, declined the 36-year-old's option, and let him leave the Angels. While the club's playoff potential isn't very high, we can at least take solace that he's accompanied by former coaches Ron Washington, Eric Young Sr., and Sal Fasano, as well as the 2021 World Series MVP.
Jesse Chavez (Texas Rangers)
It's hard to not assume that Jesse Chavez won't just rejoin the Braves at some point later this season. After all, even after the 2021 World Series, the veteran reliever has had three different stints with other teams before boomeranging right back Atlanta.
However, for now, Chavez is currently competing for a spot in the Texas Rangers bullpen, hoping to join several other members of the 2021 squad in Chris Martin, Jacob Webb, and Luke Jackson.
Tyler Matzek (New York Yankees)
Although Tyler Matzek had was traded after his final inning in the bigs in 2024, he still returned to the Braves organization and pitched a few innings in AAA, having never truly suited up for the Giants.
This spring training will be the first time Braves fans will see Matzek wear another uniform since he joined the Braves in 2020, and thanks to the now obsolete facial hair policy, our first look at 2021 postseason hero in pinstripes is with a rather bold mustache.
Jorge Soler (Los Angeles Angels)
Of the eight on this list, Jorge Soler spent the shortest time wearing a Braves uniform, having only spent parts of two seasons with Atlanta thanks to two very devastating ACL tears.
The 2021 World Series MVP was traded to the Angels in one of the first deals of the offseason, and thankfully, for at least one of the players on this list, we can say that it does not feel painful to see a photo of this former Braves donning a different A.
Luke Jackson (Texas Rangers)
It might seem hard to believe, but Luke Jackson was a big leaguer for two seasons before joining the Braves in 2017. The righty would spend six seasons with Atlanta before joining San Francisco in 2023.
But now, after a second Braves stint will certainly go down as far less memorable as his first, Luke Jackson returns to where it all began. A former first round pick by Texas in 2010, your friendly neighborhood Sliderman will once again be a Ranger, hopefully with better results than he had in his first go around.