Last season might have been an outlier for the Atlanta Braves, but it’s also possible that their 2021 success was the exception. Regardless, injuries significantly impacted the Braves’ contending roster. They only got two starts from Spencer Strider, lost Austin Riley during a critical stretch, and saw Ronald Acuña Jr. tear his ACL over Memorial Day Weekend.
In Ken Rosenthal’s recent article for The Athletic, he delved into why the Braves haven’t been as active in free agency as expected. The front office’s strategy has been to build financial flexibility for general manager Alex Anthopoulos. This has led to letting key veterans like Travis d’Arnaud, Max Fried, and Charlie Morton depart without bringing in significant new signings.
While the Braves need to bolster their starting rotation and bullpen, upgrades at shortstop and in the outfield might not happen. Rosenthal suggests that Acuña’s return could be earlier than anticipated, potentially in early May, which would make any new outfield signings relegated to bench roles. This prospect might influence the Braves’ approach to free agency.
The return of Acuña and Strider within the first third of the season would be a significant boost for the Braves. When healthy, Acuña is the team’s best player, and waiting for his return instead of signing a replacement in free agency is a prudent move. Anthopoulos has shown a preference for making impactful trades at the deadline rather than overpaying in free agency.
In terms of free agency, the Braves’ priorities seem clear: they need to reinforce their starting rotation and bullpen. Losing Fried to the Yankees and Morton to the Orioles leaves a gap in the rotation, while the bullpen needs a new arm to replace Joe Jimenez, who will miss the season due to injury.
Strider is likely to return before Acuña, possibly by mid-April to early May, as he did not require Tommy John surgery for his UCL injury. The Braves will be cautious with Acuña’s comeback, aiming for him to return fully fit around the anniversary of his injury.
For now, the Braves’ focus should be on enhancing their pitching staff, preparing for the eventual return of their star players to help lead another push for success.
