It took some time, but the Atlanta Braves have finally made a notable move in MLB free agency. On Thursday afternoon, they agreed to a three-year deal with Jurickson Profar, bolstering their outfield. Profar is expected to play a key role in Atlanta’s defensive alignment, joining Michael Harris II in center field and Ronald Acuña Jr., who is working his way back from a torn ACL, in right field. Despite this addition, the Braves still have significant work to do.
With Max Fried departing to sign a massive deal with the New York Yankees and veteran Charlie Morton heading to the Baltimore Orioles to extend his impressive career, Atlanta’s starting rotation has gaps to fill. While Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach headline the current rotation, the team needs more depth, especially with Spencer Strider still recovering.
The Braves have been loosely connected to one of the biggest names remaining on the market, future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer. After spending the last two seasons with the Texas Rangers, Scherzer’s representatives are reportedly considering offers from multiple teams, including the Braves. However, he’s also been linked to the Toronto Blue Jays.
If Scherzer doesn’t land in Toronto, could Atlanta be his next destination? Scherzer has pitched for several Braves rivals, including the Dodgers, Mets, and Nationals, which adds intrigue to the situation.
In my opinion, the Braves are likely to add at least one more starting pitcher before spring training. Adding two seems less likely unless Strider’s recovery is significantly delayed. While Sale, López, and Schwellenbach were excellent last season, it’s uncertain if they can replicate that performance.
Given this uncertainty, Atlanta could pursue a pitcher like Scherzer, but I don’t see GM Alex Anthopoulos making that move. He’s more likely to target someone like Jack Flaherty, Fried’s former high school teammate, or explore a trade for Dylan Cease, a former teammate of Profar in San Diego and a local product.
If the Braves were to replace Morton with another experienced veteran, Scherzer would make sense, but he won’t come cheap. Anthopoulos is known for avoiding overpaying in free agency, so it’s likely Atlanta will pass on Scherzer in favor of a more cost-effective option like Flaherty or a trade for Cease.
While Scherzer could solidify Atlanta’s rotation, the financial aspect may ultimately deter the Braves from pursuing him.
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