This Sunday marks the start of Major League Baseball’s highly anticipated Winter Meetings, an annual event where front office executives, agents, and a few players gather for four days of discussions and negotiations. Held this year in Dallas, the Winter Meetings are often a hotbed for trade talks and signings, although not all years yield big news. However, sometimes these meetings lead to significant moves, like when the Braves traded for Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte after a lunch meeting between John Coppolella and Dave Stewart. With so many influential figures in one place, it’s rare that nothing major happens.
While this offseason has been relatively quiet, with the major free-agent domino of Juan Soto still to fall, rumors suggest that his decision could come next week, potentially at the Winter Meetings. If so, that could trigger a flurry of activity across the market, especially as teams work to prevent the Dodgers from scooping up the remaining talent.
The Braves have already made some moves, kicking off the offseason by trading Jorge Soler and his remaining $26 million contract to the Angels in exchange for Griffin Canning. However, Canning is no longer with the Braves after the non-tender deadline. Free agency also sees Max Fried hitting the market after turning down the Braves’ qualifying offer of $21.05 million for 2024. While a return to Atlanta seems possible, it wouldn’t be shocking if Fried opts for a new team. The Braves also have potential reunions with A.J. Minter and Charlie Morton on the table, but only time will tell if that happens.
Despite these departures, the Braves’ roster is in good shape. They have a solid foundation but do have some areas to address, including the need for a middle-of-the-rotation starter, an outfield bat, and possibly an upgrade at shortstop. With key players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider expected to miss the early part of the season due to injury, reinforcing these positions has become even more pressing. Some bullpen depth could also be beneficial.
The Braves have already been linked to free-agent starters Walker Buehler and Nathan Eovaldi, suggesting that they’re focused on strengthening their rotation. Rumors also connect them to shortstop Willy Adames, which makes sense given the Braves’ desire for improvement in that area. However, under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, the Braves tend to make bigger moves through trades or contract extensions, not necessarily splashing in the free-agent market. Still, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Braves seriously pursue starting pitching, which remains their most urgent need.
In addition to trade talks, the Winter Meetings will feature the announcement of the Hall of Fame’s Classic Baseball Era inductees, with players like Dick Allen, Tommy John, and Dave Parker among those in the running for a trip to Cooperstown. The MLB Draft Lottery, held on December 10, will also determine the Braves’ draft position, though they are not directly involved in the lottery. Finally, the Rule 5 Draft on December 11 will see the Braves protecting Domingo Gonzalez by adding him to their 40-man roster, leaving a few prospects vulnerable to being selected by other teams, though it’s unlikely.
