Braves to add an outfielder to platoon with Eddie Rosario
The Atlanta Braves have a variety of players they need to decide whether or not they are worth bringing back. Some will be unrestricted free agents, while others will have a club option attached to them. One of those players is outfielder Eddie Rosario, who was one of the big trade deadline acquisitions of the 2021 season and helped them win the World Series that year. After all, he did win the NLCS MVP award in that run.
Now, after signing a two-year, $18 million contract, Rosario has a club option worth $9 million for the 2024 season. It's hard to envision that the Braves will pass up on bringing him back.
MLB.com's Mark Bowman wrote an article titled, 'Here are 5 questions facing the Braves this offseason,' and discussed the potential of the team picking up Rosario's option. But Bowman details why he would like Atlanta to bring in a right-handed platoon player in left field to pair with Rosario.
"Rosario hit 21 homers, produced a .755 OPS and proved more than adequate defensively. It would be challenging for the Braves to find this kind of production for less than $9 million. So, there's a chance the 2021 NLCS MVP will return, but possibly with a new platoon partner," writes Bowman.
"If Atlanta brings in another right-handed hitter to platoon with Rosario, it will have to account for the energy and leadership Kevin Pillar brought to the clubhouse. Travis d'Arnaud is the clubhouse leader, but Pillar and Kirby Yates helped him keep things loose."
As Bowman mentions, if they were to bring in someone to platoon with Rosario, they need someone like Kevin Pillar in terms of energy and leadership. Pillar is a free agent this winter and played 81 games for Atlanta this season. PIllar recorded a .228 batting average, a .248 on-base percentage, a .416 slugging percentage, nine home runs, 29 runs, 32 RBI, 45 hits, 50 strikeouts, and six walks in 197 at-bats. Pillar played 64 games in left field, recording a .987 fielding percentage after recording 75 putouts and one error on 76 chances.
Could Pillar be an option to bring back? Sure, but we don't know if that's in their plans. Some right-handed hitting left fielders who are free agents include Tommy Pham, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Jordan Luplow.
Why Braves shouldn't pick up Charlie Morton's option
The Atlanta Braves have a variety of decisions they have to make this offseason. Some of those decisions will be whether to pick up a club option on a player to ensure they don't hit free agency or to decline it and allow them to walk. One of the players just so happens to be a member of their starting rotation -- Charlie Morton.
Morton is owed $20 million for the 2024 season if the Braves opt to exercise the club option. The deadline to do so is by the fifth day after the conclusion of the World Series.
House That Hank Built's Seth Carter detailed why the Braves shouldn't pick up Morton's club option. One reason was that he will be entering his age 40 season next year. Not only that, but mentioned that Morton's numbers are declining.
"Morton became a strikeout pitcher in 2017 when he went to the Astros," writes Carter. "He struck out 10.0 batters per nine over 146.2 innings that year. If we exclude the 2020 Covid-shortened season in which Morton pitched just 38.0 innings, 2023 was Morton's lowest K/9 since 2017 in Houston. Still good at 10.1, but still his lowest since 2017.
"Between 2019 and 2021, Morton's walks per nine were 2.6, 2.5, and 2.8. In 2022 the walks began trending in the wrong direction with 3.3 free passes per nine frames. In 2024, Morton's walks fell off the table, walking 4.6 batters per nine."
This will be an important decision for the Braves to make. While his numbers have declined over the years, he still put up solid numbers. Of course, there is the injury concerns, as he did miss the NLDS due to a right index finger sprain suffered late in the season.
In 30 starts, Morton recorded a 3.64 ERA, a 1.427 WHIP, 183 strikeouts, and 83 walks in 163.1 innings.
An answer from the Braves will arrive after the Fall Classic, which ends as soon as Oct. 31 and as late as Nov. 4.
Braves could be interested in top starting pitcher free agents
The Atlanta Braves will look to build upon their roster in hopes of getting past the National League Division Series. While their core of franchise players is set, there is a question about what they will do for their starting rotation. They have Spencer Strider and Max Fried are the headliners of the rotation, but they will be without Kyle Wright for the entirety of the 2024 season. But what are they to do if they opt to move on from Charlie Morton this offseason?
MLB.com's Mark Bowman wrote five questions that the Braves face this offseason, and one of them was, "is there a need to add to the rotation?" Bowman mentions that Fried could leave via free agency after next season, and while discussing potentially giving long-term contracts to starting pitchers, that Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies and Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres "could be linked to the Braves once the rumor mill starts churning."
Bowman does stress, however, that it will be something to monitor if they are more interested in both options or if it's "due diligence."
Nola and Snell are the top two primary starting pitchers that will be available this offseason.
Nola has proven to be one of the more consistent ace's in the majors since he made his debut in 2015. In his nine years with the Phillies, Nola recorded a 3.72 ERA, a 1.129 WHIP, a 90-71 win-loss record, 1,528 strikeouts, and 371 walks over 1,422.0 innings (235 starts).
As for Snell, he is a favorite to win the NL Cy Young award after leading the majors with a 2.25 ERA, and an 182 ERA+, and a 5.8 hits-per-nine-innings ratio.
Given the amount of interest that both players will have entering this winter, it will be worth monitoring if the Braves will be serious contenders to add them.