The Atlanta Braves roster construction needs a bit of an overhaul, even after a record-breaking 2023 regular season. Atlanta lost again to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, showing something is missing from this bunch. But what's to be done?
The first answer to that question is Charlie Morton. The Braves right-hander will return for the 2024 season on a $20 million salary. While Morton's initial indecision had some Braves fans dreaming of Aaron Nola, Blake Snell or even Sonny Gray, the soon-to-be 40-year-old pitcher will remain in the middle of the Atlanta rotation behind Max Fried and Spencer Strider.
When healthy, Morton performed well in 2023. He had an ERA just north of 3.60, and was a shutdown pitcher when the Braves needed him. Atlanta was without Fried and Kyle Wright for several months this past summer, and Morton pitched well up until their return. However, with age comes question marks.
Atlanta declined options on Eddie Rosario, Collin McHugh and Kirby Yates, among others. While some of those players will return, others will not and need replaced. That's where I come in.
Collin McHugh will not be back for Braves, and has already been replaced
Collin McHugh was clearly on the outs with the Braves as he struggled late in the year and wasn't included on the postseason roster. McHugh often made Atlanta baseball fans sweat when inserted in the middle innings, and lacked the necessary pitch volocity to overpower opposing hitters when it mattered most.
Braves Today's Lindsay Crosby described McHugh's 2023 struggles well. Despite a strong 2022 season, he was unable to build off that in part due to injury. "(McHugh) struggled in an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, with his ERA ballooning to 4.30 and his strikeout rate dropping from 2022's 9.7 K/9 to only 7.2 K/9, while seeing his walk rate jump from 1.8 BB/9 to 3.4 BB/9." Yikes.
The Braves have already replaced McHugh, to some extent, re-signing Pierce Johnson to a multiyear deal. Johnson was acquired from the Rockies last season and was lights out with Atlanta. His fastball tops out in the upper 90's, and he proved he's ready for a larger role in the Braves bullpen if given the opportunity. Expect Johnson to slide into that middle-inning role left by the likes of McHugh and Yates.
Brad Hand's release was a long time coming for the Braves
Atlanta acquired Brad Hand, a former closer in his own right, to help solidify the back end of their bullpen. The only problem was that Hand struggled mightily against right-handed hitters (so the vast majority) which ballooned his ERA over the course of the season. Hand can potentially find a new home somewhere, but he'll need to work on his release point and windup in hopes of increasing his success against righties. Chase Owens of The House That Hank Built outlined Hand's struggles in the ATL:
"Once he arrived in Atlanta, Hand pitched 18 innings to a 7.50 ERA and 4.03 FIP. Despite his poor performance, Hand showed enough flashes late to warrant Atlanta carrying him on the NLDS roster for the sole purpose of getting the Phillies heavy-hitting lefties out...His splits between LHB and RHB are enough to warrant some MLB teams finding a role for him. Against right-handed hitters in 2023, Hand allowed a .317/.386/.575 slash line. Against left-handed batters, Hand allowed a .200/.297/.288 slash line."
Hand wasn't the answer the Braves thought he could be, but Joe Jimenez is. Atlanta re-signed Jimenez, a hard-throwing reliever they acquired from Detroit prior to last season. Despite a rocky start, Jimenez eventually settled in and can be relied upon in the back end of the bullpen. Yes, Alex Anthopoulos still has some work to do for this 'pen to be considered a strength, but keeping Jimenez and Johnson signed through next season and beyond should only help matters.
Replacing Eddie Rosario is a big question mark for the Braves
Eddie Rosario wasn't a bad left fielder by any means. He hit for moderate power and was a 2021 World Series hero for this Braves team. Seeing him leave after a tough NLDS exit isn't easy, but it's necessary. The Braves declined Rosario's $9 million option, thus making him a free agent. There are plenty of potential replacements available.
Rosario is far from the offensive force he once was with the Minnesota Twins, and despite receiving eye surgery that gave hope for a turnaround at the plate prior to 2023, the numbers just weren't there. The Braves will be better served using Rosario's money elsewhere, and one easy option is Tommy Pham, should they be interested. As FanSided's Chris Kline wrote, Pham was a huge part of the Arizona Diamondbacks World Series run:
""At 35 years old, Pham doesn't offer the same potential longevity as Gurriel. He's also less proficient in the field. The Braves should probably prefer the All-Star with Gold Glove upside, but Pham will probably require a cheaper contract with less long-term committment. There's a world in which the Braves prefer Pham on a one-year deal over Gurriel on a five-year deal, for example. Atlanta has a lot of mouths to feed financially, so Alex Anthopoulos will have to be smart with the swings he takes in free agency," Kline wrote.
If the Braves can land Pham at an affordable asking price, what's stopping them?
