The Atlanta Braves weren't active at the trade deadline but they can sign some of the players they missed on trading for in free agency this offseason.
As the dust settled on the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, the Atlanta Braves didn't make much noise. It's been made clear that Alex Anthopoulos was one of several front office leaders who ended up shut out on the starting pitching market. But the end result was the Braves landing relievers Pierce Johnson and Brad Hand along with infielder Nicky Lopez at the deadline.
That, obviously, is a lackluster trade haul that won't get Cobb County buzzing about the new additions. Of course, it may not matter with Atlanta still cruising with a double-digit lead in the NL East, the best record in baseball, and the best odds to win the World Series still.
No matter how this season ends up, though, the Braves and Anthopoulos can make up for the quiet trade deadline in the offseason. In fact, Atlanta has the chance to go after several players who were mentioned as Braves trade targets and sign them for the 2024 season and perhaps beyond.
These four players stand out as guys that Atlanta should definitely utilize a deadline redo on and sign this offseason.
4. Braves can sign Michael Lorenzen in free agency to replace Charlie Morton
One of the non-star rental starting pitchers who was dealt at the deadline was Michael Lorenzen. The veteran right-hander was ultimately traded from the Detroit Tigers to an Atlanta rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.
In his one start thus far with the Phils on Thursday, Lorenzen has already made an impact as he went 8.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits and one walk to help push Philadelphia to a win. This continues a phenomenal season for the veteran in which he was Detroit's lone representative at the All-Star Game.
Lorenzen has obviously been great this season, posting a 3.48 ERA and 1.08 WHIP overall on the year. But the truth of the matter is that he's been a solid starter for some time now. Since 2016 while playing with the Reds, Angels, Tigers and now Phillies, Lorenzen has posted an ERA over 4.45 just once and has never had a WHIP higher than 1.40.
Even if he regresses from his stellar 2023 season, he's proven he can be a reliable starter in a rotation.
For the Braves, with Charlie Morton having a $20 million club option for the 2024 season, it's likely that they look to move on from him, especially considering that the 39-year-old has shown signs of decline this season in his performance. That could make way for the Braves trying to fill that role in spirit, which the then-32-year-old Lorenzen could undoubtedly do while actually upgrading the overall strength of Atlanta's starting rotation.
3. Braves can reunite with Adam Duvall this offseason
Though it remains to be seen just how seriously the Braves were about upgrading the outfield depth at the trade deadline, it was obviously a pool that the organization ultimately didn't end up dipping its toes into. As they look toward the 2024 season, though, that might change.
Veteran Kevin Pillar is going to be a free agent after this year. In addition, Eddie Rosario has a $9 million club option for the 2024 campaign as well. That could leave Atlanta in a position where they are looking to fortify the outfield depth again.
Subsequently, that make a reunion with former Brave Adam Duvall, something that was rumored to be on the table for Anthopoulos to do at the trade deadline, likely as his deal with the Red Sox will be up at the end of this season.
Duvall has played at least parts of five seasons in Atlanta previously and the club knows what they'd be getting. He's a veteran with good power in his bat who won't hit for a high average, but will provide some juice. Duvall's also a solid defensive player as well, which could be of great value.
Even if the Braves decide to bring Rosario back into the fold in the offseason, also adding Duvall back into the mix and giving Brian Snitker a fantastic lefty/righty platoon to insert into left field could be absolutely massive to not just keep the train rolling in Atlanta, but actually make this lethal lineup even more dangerous.
2. Braves can bring Joc Pederson back this offseason for OF/DH platoon
Speaking of potential platoons and former players that could be brought back to Atlanta, Joc Pederson could be an option.
At the trade deadline, a reunion with Pederson was floated as an option for the Braves relatively early in the rumor mill starting to turn. But with the San Francisco Giants making a run to compete in the wild card race and even the NL West race too, they became more of a buyer than a seller, not looking to sell off an expiring contract in Pederson.
Pederson has remained the player he's long been, though. He still absolutely mashes right-handed pitching as the lefty has an .837 OPS on the year against righties with 11 home runs, seven doubles, and two triples with 35 RBI and even 29 walks on the year in those splits.
Atlanta has been rewarded this season for their patience — even to the chagrin of the fan base at many points — with Marcell Ozuna as the veteran DH has finally found his groove as a power-hitting right-hander again. But you know what could make him even more dangerous? Platooning him with a righty killer like Pederson based on matchups.
Not only would that platoon further strengthen the Braves lineup, but it would also give the club even further injury insurance and outfield depth — though Pederson isn't exactly going to be a top option with the leather. In any case, he's a familiar face and World Series hero who could have a big-time effect on Atlanta's offense being somehow even better in 2024 if the club can bring him back.
1. Braves can make a major splash and sign Josh Hader in the offseason
Spitting in the face of what most logical people believed they should do at the trade deadline, the San Diego Padres elected to buy. As a result of that, two star pitchers on expiring contracts stayed put rather than the Friars trying to recoup some value for them instead of risking losing them for nothing in the offseason: Blake Snell and Josh Hader.
Given the financial commitments that the Padres have already made and could continue to make with guys like Juan Soto and others, there's an extremely real possibility that both Snell and Hader walk.
While adding Snell for a three-man top of the rotation in Atlanta of Max Fried-Spencer Strider-Blake Snell, the fact of the matter is that starters are going to cost exponentially more on the free agency market than relievers. More importantly, adding an ace to the bullpen could be the next step for Atlanta, making Hader potentially the biggest-name target that the Braves could pursue this offseason.
It's not hyperbole to refer to Hader as the best closer and potentially the best reliever in baseball. Outside of his arrival in San Diego that went awry after he was traded last season, he's been nails for basically his entire career, including dominating opposing hitters this season with a 0.89 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 26 saves in 43 appearances in the 2023 season.
The Braves need another lefty in the bullpen regardless, but especially so with Kirby Yates set to hit free agency and unlikely to return given that he'll be 37 years old next season. Moreover, adding Hader would give Atlanta a great back-end punch of A.J. Minter, Raisel Iglesias and Hader that would only further solidify them as a perennial World Series contender.