Braves News: Chris Sale Wins Cy Young, Manfred Discusses Expansion, and More
Updates on the Atlanta Braves from Wednesday….
Lately, I’ve been pondering whether this could be the year Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves front office make a significant move in free agency. Since taking over, Anthopoulos’s most notable free-agent deals have been signing Will Smith and re-signing Marcell Ozuna for $64 million with a team option.
Last offseason, the Braves reportedly came close to landing Aaron Nola, who ultimately signed a seven-year, $172 million deal. This indicates a potential willingness to spend big, though we have yet to see such a move materialize under Anthopoulos’s leadership.
Over the years, there have been vague rumors of the Braves pursuing stars like Anthony Rendon, Carlos Correa, and Shohei Ohtani, but those whispers lack the credibility of the Nola pursuit, which Anthopoulos himself acknowledged.
If these rumors hold some truth, perhaps targeting a player like Juan Soto isn’t entirely out of reach. Soto’s age, talent, and position make him an ideal fit. However, a more realistic option could be Willy Adames, who might command a contract similar to Nola’s and could fill the Braves’ shortstop vacancy—a crucial position.
It remains to be seen if this is the offseason when the Braves commit to a long-term, market-value deal in free agency or if they’ll stick to their usual strategy of shorter-term signings and extending homegrown or trade-acquired talent on more team-friendly terms. Either way, the Braves’ payroll is becoming one of the league’s highest, and their decisions this offseason will be pivotal.
