As Meetings close, how will Braves address key needs?

SAN DIEGO — Some Braves followers might have grown involved as their crew stayed quiet whereas the Mets and Phillies made vital additions throughout this 12 months’s Winter Meetings. Others might have simply remembered their crew has received 5 straight National League East titles with out successful the offseason.

It was one other quiet Winter Meetings for Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos, who left San Diego on Wednesday with out making any main strikes. Anthopoulos, supervisor Brian Snitker, bench coach Walt Weiss and a few front-office members used the three-day occasion to debate varied methods to enhance the membership this winter.

“It’s actually been productive to just get together as a group,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “At this time of year, you have a lot of conversations. I feel like we’ve made progress. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it’s been a good use of the time here.”

The Braves haven’t made any latest progress with Dansby Swanson, who continues to attract curiosity from a number of golf equipment, together with the Cubs. So there’s rising cause to surprise if Swanson will exit Atlanta one 12 months after Freddie Freeman begrudgingly did so.

“It’s tough,” Snitker mentioned. “You do get attached to those guys. My God, we’re spending a lot of time together. They’re quality individuals. I love them to death. But it is part of the business. We all know that when we get in here. That’s part of it. Time will tell which way we go. But I’ll always root for [Swanson].”

1. Shortstop
Swanson, Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Correa are the highest three shortstops nonetheless on the free-agent market. If the Braves don’t seize one among these gamers, they might need to discover the commerce market. But to get a top quality shortstop, Atlanta might have to incorporate All-Star William Contreras in a deal. Manny Piña’s return creates this feature. But Contreras received’t be moved except the Braves are getting a big improve, whether or not that be a shortstop, left fielder or beginning pitcher. Willy Adames appeared like a sexy choice, but it surely doesn’t appear like the Brewers will commerce him after already addressing payroll issues by dealing second baseman Kolten Wong to the Mariners.

Another choice could be to signal a defense-first shortstop like Elvis Andrus and including a giant bat to place in left discipline. The addition of this outfielder would fill a necessity and in addition assist account for Swanson’s potential departure from the lineup.

2. Left fielder
If the season began tomorrow, the Braves’ left fielder could be Eddie Rosario or Marcell Ozuna. So as an alternative of itemizing left discipline as a “need,” it could be higher to listing it as a “NEED.” Rosario offered little energy after coming back from eye surgical procedure final 12 months, whereas Ozuna hasn’t hit sufficient to return near compensating for his defensive limitations the previous two seasons.

Any crew in search of an outfielder probably has proven some curiosity in Bryan Reynolds, who reportedly requested the Pirates for a commerce on Saturday. The Braves might additionally present some curiosity in free agent Michael Conforto if the previous Met is actually prepared to take a one-year deal. Adam Duvall, Andrew Benintendi, AJ Pollock and David Peralta are among the many different free brokers who might curiosity the Braves.

3. Pitching
Ian Anderson and Mike Soroka are the highest two candidates to start subsequent season as Atlanta’s fifth starter. There’s an opportunity Bryce Elder, Kyle Muller and both Anderson or Soroka all might start the 12 months offering depth at Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves have enviable depth, however they did not less than inquire a few short-term deal for Jacob deGrom. It appears the goal would have been including an elite arm. But there’s an opportunity the membership might additionally try to additional improve the depth with one other middle-of-the-rotation starter.

If Kirby Yates and Nick Anderson each bounce again from accidents and return to type, the Braves ought to have a particular bullpen. But the uncertainty about each of those proficient relievers could also be sufficient for the membership so as to add not less than another reliever to a mixture that might be led by nearer Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Collin McHugh and Joe Jiménez, who was acquired from the Tigers for 2 Minor Leaguers Wednesday evening.

GM’s backside line
“With the resources we have, whether that’s trade or dollars, it’s about how can we make the best 2023 Braves? What makes the most sense? We can get better in the bullpen. We can get better in the rotation. We can get better from an offensive standpoint. We can get better in all areas. It’s just about finding the deal that makes the most sense.” — Anthopoulos