Tag: Offseason

What’s Next For the Braves Coming Into the Offseason?

After a disappointing Postseason run by the Atlanta Braves, in which they were eliminated in the NLDS, it is time to start looking towards the 2024 season. The question coming into this offseason is what should the be the Braves front office staff’s main focus? And the answer to that would be this: PITCHING!

Atlanta’s offense flourished all season long with several players setting franchise and MLB records at the plate. However, the Braves pitching staff had some serious struggles throughout the season, and we saw that firsthand in the NLDS. A team can have a great offense and win ballgames, but what about the games where their offense is slacking? Those are the game where teams need to be able to rely on their starting rotation and on the bullpen. If they cannot maintain a one-run lead, or even a one-run deficit, then they aren’t doing their job.

There are some games where the Braves starting rotation had good starts and the bullpen was able to hold onto a lead. But what we saw most nights for the Braves was a shaky bullpen, and on a really bad night, we saw a shaky bullpen and an unstable starting rotation. It is safe to say that without good pitching – no matter how fantastic an offense is – they will more likely than not find themselves in situations they did NOT want to be in.

The Braves did have a lot of pitchers start the 2023 season on the injured list and had players go off and on the IL all year. Jackson Stephens, Nick Anderson, Tyler Matzek, and Huascar Ynoa didn’t make a single start this season, and Collin McHugh, Kolby Allard, Dylan Lee, and Michael Soroka were unable to stay off the injured list for the majority of the season. Jesse Chavez spent a couple of months on the injured list, and even Charlie Morton spent some time on the injured list toward the end of the season. It was painfully obvious the Braves pitching staff was not at 100% anytime during the whole season.

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Recently, the Atlanta Braves front staff signed RHP Pierce Johnson to a two-year $14.25 million contract. They acquired him at the 2023 trade deadline from the Colorado Rockies. Johnson did not perform well with the Rockies, but he had drastically different numbers with the Braves producing a 0.73 ERA over three months (excluding the Postseason). Atlanta also signed Joe Jiménez to a three-year $26 million contract. Jiménez had an up and down season with the Braves. Hopefully he will have better numbers in the 2024 season with Atlanta.

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Out of all the Braves pitchers, there is only one who is a free agent this offseason, and that is Jesse Chavez. Chavez missed a couple of months during the middle of the season due to a fractured shin, but he is known as “Mr Consistent” coming out of the bullpen. Jesse is definitely a fan favorite and a club favorite. I will be very surprised if the Atlanta Braves don’t resign him for the 2024 season.

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It will be interesting to see how the Atlanta Braves front office staff goes about strengthening the Braves’ pitching staff…but there is no denying that it IS an issue and it NEEDS to be addressed. And since Atlanta has their whole infield and most of the outfield locked up for a good while, the Braves front staff can spend more money to secure some reliable pitching.

I’m looking forward to the 2024 season already! GO BRAVES!!

With Swanson Gone, Who Will be the Braves’ Next Shortstop?

While the news of Dansby leaving the Braves was disappointing, it wasn’t all that surprising. The longer the question of “Will Dansby re-sign?” was up in the air, the more it seemed that the answer would inevitably be no. Now that the issue is settled and Dansby has signed with the Cubs, Braves Country must move on. We survived losing Freddie, and we’ll survive losing Dansby.

So…who will be the Braves’ new shortstop?

I think, as of where the Atlanta Braves are at right now, Vaughn Grissom is the most logical choice for our new SS. Grissom showed potential while filling in at second base for Ozzie Albies while he was hurt last season, and his position in the minors was shortstop so that will definitely help him in this position for the 2023 season. He has also been working with third base coach Ron Washington this offseason which tells me that the Braves are planning on making him their shortstop.

It will definitely be different to see someone else at shortstop who isn’t Dansby Swanson, but at the end of the day, whether we like it or not, this is how the game of baseball works. Dansby made the decision that makes the most sense for him and where he’s at in life — and Atlanta fans must move on.

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Regardless of who’s at shortstop, I believe in the Atlanta Braves team. I’m looking forward to the 2023 season for the Braves, and I can’t wait to see what kind of excitement is in store for them!

Always and forever, GO BRAVES!!

What I Think the Braves Should do This Offseason:

Now that the offseason has officially begun, it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2023 season. The Atlanta Braves locked in three players this season: Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, and Spencer Strider. They Braves have almost all of their everyday players locked up. In fact, only shortstop and whoever is going to play left field are not locked up for the Braves. Obviously, The Atlanta Braves’ front office, the Braves team, and ALL of Braves country want to see Dansby Swanson at shortstop for the Braves for many years to come. He is a Georgia native and all things Atlanta sports. He has made such an impact for the Braves and over the last two seasons. We have really gotten to see the power he has and the top-quality defense he gives every single day. No one wants to see him go, but it’s all a matter of if he really wants to stay in Atlanta like he says he does, or if he wants to go where the money is. Hopefully Dansby won’t be another Freddie, but they had the same agent (Freeman fired his earlier this year). Dansby is obviously the biggest goal this offseason, and it’s my hope that the Braves would go after him first.

Along with Dansby Swanson, Adam Duvall, Robbie Grossman, Kenley Jansen, Luke Jackson, Darren O’Day, Jesse Chavez, and Ehire Adrianza are Free Agents. I would be surprised if the Braves re-signed Grossman, O’Day, or Adrianza. O’Day did not have a great year on the mound, Adrianza didn’t play much other than a couple games when both Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia were hurt before they called Grissom up, and although Robbie Grossman came through in quite a few situations in the 2022 season, I don’t see him coming back over Adam Duvall.

The Braves need a closer, but they need a reliable one. Jansen had his ups and downs this year, but he came though when the Braves needed him the most. I think the Braves will make him an offer, but I don’t know if he’ll take it or not. Luke Jackson did not play this season due to Tommy John surgery. However, in 2020-2021 he showed skill off the pitching mound. With his slider and his fastball, he was able to get batters out and get out of troublesome innings. I can possibly see the Braves using him as a closer, but I think Atlanta will try and find someone who has more closer credentials. The Braves could sign him to add more depth to the bullpen, but there’s no guarantee what he’s going to be like after surgery. Jesse Chavez has become a fan-favorite. He has been traded ten times in his career, and has been a Brave off and on for 2 1/2 seasons. Chavez has come through for the Braves, and like Jackson, I could see the Braves signing him to a 1-2 year deal to add depth to the bullpen.

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In the end, we will have to wait and see what moves the Braves make. I think I speak on behalf of all Braves country when I say that we don’t want to see Dansby Swanson in another uniform. He has become the face of the Braves this year and has proven just how good of a player he is, and everyone wants him to be a Brave for a long long time.

GO BRAVES!