The Atlanta Braves will have more spending money this winter after dealing outfielder Jorge Soler.
This offseason, the Atlanta Braves were faced with an intriguing decision about Jorge Soler. The Braves rely heavily on Ronald Acuña Jr. and Marcell Ozuna, leaving little room for Soler in their lineup.
The uncertainty surrounding both Acuña and Ozuna poses a challenge in 2025. Acuña is rehabbing from his second ACL injury in three years, while Ozuna will become a free agent if the Braves do not pick up his club option.
The Braves expect Acuña to return healthy early in 2025 and intend to pick up Ozuna’s option. That became clear when the Braves decided to trade Soler to the Los Angeles Angels for right-handed starter Griffin Canning.
Another benefit of the Soler trade is that the Braves will have approximately $10.5 million more to spend in MLB free agency. That is approximately how much less Canning will cost than Soler in 2025, and the two teams did not include any cash in their trade agreement on October 31.
The Braves are expected to use the extra dollars to either extend left-hander Max Fried’s contract or make a different big acquisition, such as shortstop Willy Adames.
But, for the sake of argument, let us suppose that moving Soler has no bearing on Atlanta’s aspirations for major acquisitions this offseason. After all, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos promised the media that the team’s spending will increase.
Aside from significant signings, where else may the Braves plan to invest an additional $10.5 million in their roster? Here are three possible choices:
Right-handed Starter Matthew Boyd
Last week, Jim Bowden of The Athletic identified the Braves as one of six teams that were a “best fit” for Boyd on his top 45 free agent list. Bowden had Boyd rated 44th and expected him to sign a one-year, $10 million contract.
If Boyd receives that type of deal, he will exactly match what the Braves want to spend after their Soler savings. If Fried departs, the left-hander may assist replace him. Signing Boyd, however, would probably not prevent the Braves from also extending Fried.
If Atlanta is able to sign Fried and subsequently Boyd, the latter may fill the Charlie Morton vacuum. Morton may or may not retire.
In 2024, Boyd was 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.134 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings. His innings were limited after returning from Tommy John surgery in the middle of the 2023 season.
Relief Pitcher Blake Treinen
If Fried leaves Atlanta and signs with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, are there any Dodgers pitchers the Braves may grab as retaliation? Maybe.
If the Braves consider doing so, Treinen may be a possibility. He is a 37-year-old free agent who signed a one-year, $8 million contract to return to the Dodgers last season.
Treinen missed the entire 2023 season due to right shoulder labrum and rotator cuff repair surgery. He returned in 2024 to go 7-3 with a 1.93 ERA, 0.943 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.
Treinen might serve as a partial replacement for free agent A.J. Minter in 2025.
Shortstop Paul DeJong
Atlanta’s best option is to make a big trade for a shortstop. Otherwise, whoever the Braves bring in at shortstop won’t be a significant upgrade over 2023 All-Star Orlando Arcia.
However, DeJong might still be an enticing free agent for Atlanta. He’s unlikely to cost more than $10 million. Last offseason, he signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
DeJong hit.227 in 139 games last season. Arcia had a.218 batting average.
But DeJong hit 24 home homers. He has hit at least 20 home runs in three of his seven complete MLB seasons, with 19 in the other.
Arcia has never hit more than 17 homers in a season.
The Braves may settle for a power increase at shortstop with DeJong and utilize the remaining money from the Soler trade to sign Fried or another free agent starting pitcher, like as Blake Snell.
