Going into this offseason, starting pitching is already one of the top priorities for Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos. With news out of the general manager meetings yesterday in San Antonio, starting pitching may be a bigger priority than anticipated. It was reported that along with Ronald Acuña Jr., the Braves do not believe Spencer Strider will be ready for Opening Day. Anthopoulos told Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
“I think with both guys, I don’t think it’s significant time, but I think we’re confident that opening day is not realistic for them,” Anthopoulos said. “I think, look, once we get to spring, you get to the beginning of February, you’ll have a much better idea on timelines. We’re planning that they will not be part of the opening day roster, and how soon after that, we’ll know more as we get deeper into the offseason.”
Braves fans are facing a tough situation as there was significant optimism that Spencer Strider would be ready for Opening Day. Compounding the issue is the likelihood that Max Fried has thrown his last pitch for Atlanta. Additionally, the potential retirement of 41-year-old Charlie Morton adds to the uncertainty. As a result, the Braves now need to fill two spots in their starting rotation for the upcoming season. Given the recent moves the team has made to free up payroll for the 2025 season, it is likely that they will turn to free agency to fill at least one of these spots.
Braves Eyeing Right-Hander: Nathan Eovaldi Linked to Atlanta
Two-time World Series-winning pitcher Nathan Eovaldi declined his player option with the Texas Rangers this past Monday. The 34-year-old veteran All-Star is likely seeking a multi-year contract still around an AAV of $20 million. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reported Tuesday that, per a source, Eovaldi ranks near the top of the Braves’ wish list. Eovaldi posted a 3.80 ERA while completing 170 2/3 innings over 29 starts this past season. His 23.9 percent strikeout rate was his highest mark since the 2021 season.
The postseason experience that Eovaldi brings is definitely something that is attractive to the Braves. Eovaldi is 9-1 with a 2.85 ERA in 12 career postseason starts. He was also teammates with Chris Sale in 2018 when the Boston Red Sox won the World Series. He then gained his second ring after helping the Rangers win it all in 2023.
Braves Rotation in 2025
Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach will serve as the core of the rotation until Spencer Strider returns from right elbow surgery. If Atlanta can make a splash this offseason, they may be able to fill the fifth spot internally. Braves fans are left uneasy after this season, seeing pitching prospects that didn’t seem ready for the big leagues. However, it could hold over temporarily as A.J. Smith-Shawver showed some promise in his only regular-season start against the Chicago Cubs in 2024.
Main Photo: © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
