The Atlanta Braves have been fairly quiet this winter, and that might continue. But they also may have been waiting for the market to settle before doing their shopping.
The cost of acquiring starting pitching was at an all-time high in December, and the Braves sat back and watched as their two-time All-Star, Max Fried, signed a $218 million deal with the New York Yankees.
While matching that exorbitant price tag for Fried may never have been in the cards for Atlanta, the fact remains that if the season started today, only three starters would be locks for rotation spots--Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, and Spencer Schwellenbach.
A fourth, Spencer Strider will eventually join the mix, but the Braves still need to either depend on Triple-A arms to come up and seize a role, or add one more starter in free agency or trades.
On Monday, Austin Owens of FanSided suggested that Atlanta could go the trade route and acquire two-time All-Star Marcus Stroman from the Yankees, in a full-circle moment resulting from Fried taking Stroman's spot in the New York rotation.
"Even once Strider returns from injury, Atlanta will still have one slot in their starting rotation to fill," Owens wrote.
"If the Yankees are willing to take on a large amount of Stroman's salary, Alex Anthopoulos should make a deal to bring him to Atlanta. The Braves want to contend for a World Series, and as currently constructed, they don't stand much of a chance in the crowded NL East."
Stroman, who signed a two-year, $37 million deal last winter and has a vesting option for 2026 if he throws 140-plus innings this year, didn't have the debut season he wanted in the Bronx. He owned a 4.31 ERA and 4.62 FIP in 31 appearances, including 30 starts.
Atlanta has been known to get the best out of veteran starting pitching acquisitions, evidenced by Sale's remarkable comeback year in 2024. If Stroman came cheap, wouldn't it be worth a go for the Braves in case lightning were to strike twice?
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