The Atlanta Braves were eliminated in Game 4 of the NLDS, ending a historic 104-win season well short of expectations. This is the Braves' second straight postseason loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, a division rival that continues to get hot at the right point in the season.
It will be a long offseason for the Braves, who have every piece necessary to contend, but a striking track record of postseason failure to reckon with. The pitching staff needs work, as do certain components of the lineup. It's not often that a team gets eight All-Stars in the same season. It's even less often that we see such a team flameout in the division series against a team with 14 fewer regular season victories.
Whether the Braves seek bold additions or marginal changes in the offseason, these players feel like strong candidates to find new homes — either via trade or free agency.
3. Kevin Pillar
The Braves' decision to plant Kevin Pillar in left field in Game 4 of the NLDS was widely maligned. It has been a rocky season for the 34-year-old journeyman in his first season with the ball club — .228/.248/.416 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs in 197 at-bats. He's a perfectly adequate backup, but he's not a player you want to rely on in the playoffs.
Left field has been one of the few points of weakness for the Braves' lineup all season. Whether the team pursues significant changes or not, it's not hard to imagine Pillar getting the boot. He will have suitors around the MLB, but his reputation in Atlanta has deteriorated to the point of no return.
Pillar's indecision on a past ball in the seventh inning may have cost the Braves this game. That mistake is the nail in the coffin.
Brian Snitker took a lot of heat before that mistake for leaning on Pillar in such a critical game. Atlanta has the best offense in MLB history on paper. Pillar in the seven spot is a shocking eyesore.
He has played his last game in Atlanta.
2. Charlie Morton
Charlie Morton, the 39-year-old with two All-Star appearances on his resume, has spent three productive seasons with the Braves — including his second World Series win in 2021. A paragon of reliability and poise on the biggest stage, Morton finished the 2023 playoffs watching from the dugout with finger inflammation.
The injury sucks, it would be doubly unfortunate for his Braves career to end on such a bummer note. With his age, however, not to mention the in-flux nature of Atlanta's bullpen, there's good reason to suspect a Morton departure in the offseason. He could retire, or the Braves could simply let the unrestricted free agent walk. His contract could end up more expensive than the Braves are willing to pay.
Morton struggled at times in the regular season. He finished the campaign with a good-not-great 3.64 ERA and a concerning 1.427 WHIP. The Braves have questions to answer on the pitching front, but Spencer Strider and Max Fried are cemented as the team's aces. Kyle Wright is unlikely to play next season, but up-and-comer A.J. Smith-Shawver could step into the rotation alongside All-Star Bryce Elder. There's a squeeze for Morton's spot.
If he doesn't retire, other teams will toss money in Morton's direction. There are successful 40-year-old pitchers all around the league. The Astros are leaning heavily on one going into the ALCS. That's not to say Morton is Justin Verlander, but he still packs a decent punch on the mound. His career isn't necessarily over, just his time with the Braves.
1. Marcell Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna is under team control for another two seasons in Atlanta. At first blush, it seems strange to project a trade after his best MLB season to date. Ozuna was integral to the middle of the Braves' lineup, slashing .274/.346/.558 with 40 home runs and 100 RBIs in 530 at-bats. There weren't many better sluggers in the National League.
That said, Ozuna has been a problem off the field during his Braves tenure. He was also on the downswing, rather infamously, before a midseason turnaround in 2023. He hit .226 last season and .213 the year before. It stands to reason that this season was more of an aberation than a revival. A smart betting man would project a pronounced step back for Ozuna in 2024.
That being said, the Braves should aim to sell high. Ozuna is the perfect DH — a hard-swinger with major RBI potential every time he steps to the plate — but the Braves need to move the lineup around to figure out the left field issue. Plus, there's the Vaughn Grissom piece to the puzzle. Grissom has been a dominant presence in the minors, but his struggles in the field have kept him out of the Braves' lineup. If the DH slot opens up, Grissom has a chance to stick around in Atlanta.
So, do not expect Ozuna back next season. It has been a mostly productive, if often inconsistent four-year stretch for the veteran, but he may have played his way off the roster with such a strong bounce-back campaign. There's a team out there who will talk themselves into the Ozuna reclamation, and that team will probably end up disappointed when Ozuna is batting .200 halfway through the season.
