Previewing the Atlanta offseason

The Braves went on yet another deep postseason run only to be eliminated for the third consecutive year in the NLCS. Two years removed from taking the Dodgers to 7 games and one year removed from a five game series loss to the likes of the Colorado Rockies, the Braves found themselves up in this years NLCS 3-2 heading back to Colorado needing to win just one of the two games. It didn't happen. Atlanta dropped game six, 7-5, after a shaky bullpen performance. Game seven was the opposite storyline, as the powerful Atlanta lineup was held in check by Sandy Alcantara. It was a shaky first inning for Alcantara, but he was never tested much the rest of the way as the Braves went quietly into the offseason, dropping game seven 4-0.

And here we are. Yet another disappointing finish, despite the overall success of the big league club. What does Zac Berwick and the rest of the front office have to do to push this team over the top? The middle of November is here; free agents are about a week away from filing and the winter meetings are less than a month away. The Braves have several key pending free agents, perhaps none bigger than Kevin Gausman who recently informed the front office he would be opting out of the rest of his contract.

Let's take a look at where things stand.

Pitching

What we know:

The Braves will return three key starters from last year's staff that ranked second in the National League in starters ERA. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes will enter his final season under contract anchoring the Atlanta staff along with Mike Soroka and Bryce Wilson. Kenta Maeda and the aforementioned Gausman are set to be free agents. There are rumors that there is mutual interest in a reunion with Kevin Gausman from both sides, but that it may take significant time to find a common ground. Maeda is likely to not return. As far as in house options, Hunter Greene and Nick Nelson could both audition for a job in the rotation come Spring Training.

The Bullpen:

The revamped bullpen of Atlanta's second half is expected to return in its entirety. There won't be much change to this department. Seth Lugo, Trevor May, Trevor Rosenthal, Brad Wieck and AJ Minter are expected to handle the high leverage situations while Jacob Webb and Jasseel De La Cruz round out the middle innings.

Offense

The returnees:

The usual suspects will be back to anchor one of the National League's most prolific lineups. The infield will remain the same, Correa-Semien-Albies-Freeman, and the outfield will once again feature the dynamic Ronald Acuna Jr., Rookie of the Year runner up Heston Kjerstad, and look to benefit from a full season of Cristian Pache. Eddie Rosario will be a key left handed bench bat.

But what about catcher?

Well, Yasmani Grandal is currently set to hit free agency. Like Gausman, there is mutual interest in a return. I'd expect this one to get done rather quickly and would say pretty confidently that you can expect to see Grandal back in Atlanta in 2024. However, I wouldn't expect him to be the absolute 1A moving forward. I'd venture that there is an understanding between Grandal and the Braves brass that he is coming back for a 50/50 split in 2024 and even less of a role in 2025 with Gabriel Moreno ready to make his debut in Atlanta.

And the DH?

The club has already told Marcell Ozuna that they will not be picking up his team options in 2024 or 2025. This is the one area, along with a potential starting pitcher if a Gausman deal doesn't get done, that the Braves could look to make a splash at. Bryce Ball is the most interesting in house option that could fill this void.