The Atlanta Braves were the best team in baseball during the regular season, winning 104 games behind a historic offense and a strong (if oft-injured) pitching staff. Expectations were high for the No. 1 seed in the National League, but the Braves fell short for the second straight postseason.
Back-to-back road losses to the Philadelphia Phillies marked the end of Atlanta's season. For the second year in a row, the Braves lost to their division rival in the NLDS despite boasting a superior regular season record.
At the worst possible moment, the Braves' bats went ice-cold. Couple that with several nagging injuries in the pitching corps — Charlie Morton on the IL with a finger problem, Kyle Wright out through the 2024 season — and Atlanta was facing a steep uphill battle against the red-hot Phils.
In the wake of a disappointing season finale, one has to imagine the Braves will look to make changes this winter. That could start with declining, or accepting, club options for 2024. Several players are on the chopping block. Here's who the Braves will probably let go, and one player Atlanta should keep.
Braves should decline club option for Collin McHugh
In his second season with the Braves, 36-year-old Collin McHugh struggled mightily. He posted a 4.30 ERA, his worst since 2016, and saw his WHIP jump from 0.938 last season to 1.568 in 2023. He only struck out 7.2 batters per nine innings, compared to 3.4 walks.
The Braves' bullpen was a source of weakness at various points during the season, in part due to McHugh. Atlanta figures to hunt for quality rotation arms during the offseason. There is a need for quality righties, but McHugh simply wasn't up to snuff — especially not relative to his $6 million club option.
Alex Anthopoulos and the front office should look to use that money on a younger, more productive bullpen option or reinforcements in the lineup. McHugh could latch on with another team or even re-sign for less money, as he was a reliable weapon in 2022, but the Braves simply have no reason to pay top dollar for an aging, inconsistent reliever.
Braves should decline club option for Brad Hand
The Braves acquired Brad Hand in a midseason trade with the Colorado Rockies, which triggered a mutual option worth $7 million for the 2024 season. There's no doubt Hand will exercise his end of the option, but Atlanta should be extremely weary of spending so much money on Hand after his abysmal second half of the season.
Hand posted a 7.50 ERA and 1.389 WHIP in 20 games (18.0 innings pitched) with the Braves post-deadline. Simply put, he did not perform well enough to earn the contract value of his option. There is a $500K buyout tied to Hand's deal, but that's a drop of water in the ocean compared to a $7 million commitment.
The southpaw already sits behind A.J. Minter, Dylan Lee, and Tyler Matzek as lefties in the Braves' bullpen. Hand was an All-Star as recently at 2019, but he's another aging vet who, at 33 years old, doesn't pack the same punch he once did.
Atlanta needs to scour the free agent market for improvements to the bullpen, but expect the primary focus to be on right-handed relievers. The left-handed relievers are fairly solid and Hand's absence would not be deeply felt. The Braves gave up a decent prospect to acquire Hand at the deadline, but good front offices don't fall for the sunk cost fallacy. Anthopoulos should move on without losing sleep.
Braves should decline club option for Eddie Rosario
Eddie Rosario was a hero during the Braves' 2021 World Series run, but the last couple seasons have been disappointing on the whole. Rosario battled injuries in 2022 and inconsistency in 2023, watching his role diminish as Brian Snitker opted for a platoon in left field.
For the season, Rosario slashed .255/.305/.450 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs in 478 at-bats. He finished the campaign watching from the sidelines with Kevin Pillar stationed in left for the do-or-die Game 4 in Philadelphia. Pillar has been an object of controversy, so it's telling that Rosario was relegated to pinch-hitting duties for Atlanta's biggest games of the season.
The 32-year-old still has pop behind his swings and enough fielding equity to get a decent contract somewhere, but his $9 million club option is pricey for a part-time player. The sentimental aspect of this move is a tough pill to swallow, but there's no reason for Anthopoulos to spend so much on Rosario.
One potential solution, of course, is to decline the option and re-sign Rosario on a less expensive deal. The Braves face a potential shortage of left field talent as Pillar hits free agency, so the Braves could still feel motivated to keep a familiar face around. That said, do not be shocked if the Braves begin next season with a completely new look in left field.
Braves should pick up club option for Kirby Yates
The Braves' bullpen was a mess down the stretch, which only drives home the importance of keeping the competent relievers in-house. In his second season with Atlanta, Kirby Yates posted a respectable 3.28 ERA and 1.193 WHIP with a 7-2 record and five saves. He appeared in 61 games (60.1 IP) and averaged 11.9 K's per nine innings.
He throws a mean mixture of fastballs and splitters with his right hand. While the Braves' bullpen has quality southpaws under commission, there is a lack of quality righties. Yates is a player the Braves are confident relying on in a pinch. He appeared in the 2019 All-Star game with the Padres, so the track record of success is there.
Age is a factor, of course. Yates in 36 years old and there's a natural concern about a potential dropoff. Yates is on the decline, but watching him, it's evident he has gas left in the tank. The money factor also makes this a simple decision. Yates' option is worth a very affordable $5.75 million with a pricey $1.25 million buyout.
The Braves' need a serious facelift in the bullpen. The aforementioned McHugh and Hand are potential casualties as Anthopoulos and the front office look to remake the Braves' pitching staff, but there's every reason to keep Yates into the mix as a quality set-up man and emergency closer.
