Dreaming of the future is something that Atlanta Braves fans like doing in the early offseason. Yes, there are legitimate worries about things like the luxury tax, salary flexibility, and future-season planning, but those are dull. We can still speculate about what an already excellent Braves roster may look like if the best free agents were added.
Is it likely to occur? Nope. The Braves have some financial flexibility room this offseason, particularly if they reject Charlie Morton’s 2024 option, but with all the deals they have inked, they really only have so much payroll space available until they hit the luxury tax. Dreaming is still enjoyable, though.
Here are six fantasy Braves free agent possibilities for this offseason that would excite fans.
To be clear, even if the Braves don’t give a damn about the luxury tax penalties, the majority of these signings are extremely unlikely to occur. This offseason, there will be intense competition for these players, and Alex Anthopoulos is not inclined to offer the contracts ($) that the majority of these players will demand. But there are a few that might occur, and who knows—perhaps AA has another surprise in store for 2024.
Atlanta Braves unsurprisingly decline option of lefty reliever Brad Hand
Alec Barger was traded to the Colorado Rockies for Hand during the previous season’s trade deadline. Hand gave the Phillies additional depth in the bullpen and was someone they could rely on when facing formidable left-handed batters like Bryce Harper.
Hand pitched 18 innings at a 7.50 ERA and 4.03 FIP after moving to Atlanta. Even though he didn’t play well, Hand had enough late-inning performances to be worth Atlanta’s keeping him on the NLDS roster just to relieve the Phillies’ heavy-hitting lefties.
Hand let up a home run to Harper on a hanging slider in the NLDS after pitching one inning against the top of the Philadelphia order.
His splits between LHB and RHB are sufficient for certain MLB organizations to consider giving him a position. In 2023, Hand gave up a slash line of.317/.386/.575 against right-handed hitters. Hand gave up a slash line of.200/.297/.288 against left-handed hitters.
He can employ his sweeper-sinker combo to quite effectively dispatch left-handed sluggers. The lefty specialists of the world, however, are a dying breed due to the three-batter limitation.
Despite having a poor season in 2023, Brad Hand has had a good career as a reliever, and he should have little issue getting job the following season. There are still a few spots available in the Braves bullpen for free agents, so if Hand is still available in February, don’t be shocked if AA calls.
Ben Heller was sent down to Triple-A Gwinnett by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Heller chose to exercise free agency a day later.In 2023, the 32-year-old pitched 18.2 innings in 19 games while playing for the Atlanta Braves. During this time, he recorded a 3.86 ERA, 16 strikeouts, and 11 walks.
Heller had the ability to make efficient outs once he found the ball. But issuing 11 free passes in just 18.2 innings is a heinous offense. Any manager would lose sleep over that, averaging 5.3 walks per nine innings.
Other than potential, the Braves stand to gain little from Heller’s decision to elect free agency. Heller pitched with the New York Yankees for four seasons prior to moving to Atlanta, where he recorded a 2.59 ERA in 31.1 innings. Even in his pinstripes, he walked fifteen hitters, demonstrating his lack of control at the time.
This information also follows the report that Atlanta has agreed to terms with relief relievers Pierce Johnson and Joe Jimenez. Johnson just agreed to a $14.25 million, two-year contract with a third-year option. Joe Jimenez recently signed a $26 million, three-year contract.
Ben Heller probably thought he didn’t have a place in Atlanta’s big league bullpen and is certain he can be a productive major league pitcher for another team now that both of these relievers are back.
The Atlanta Braves are aware that part of Major League Baseball’s business side involves keeping players, trading players, and allowing players to enter free agency. Ben Heller decided to leave the Braves organization in search of a big-league opportunity because he just did not get the opportunity he would have liked. Aside from facing the Braves on the mound, we hope Heller has nothing but success in the future.
