The Atlanta Braves’ summer plans are apparent.
Following the season-ending injuries of Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, and Austin Riley, the squad will focus on getting their finest players well and ready for their eighth consecutive playoff run in 2025.
However, the front office is likely to reshuffle the roster as well, especially with club staples like Max Fried and Charlie Morton leaving for free agency and freeing up some payroll.
The Braves may look for an infield addition to supplement their present players, with Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller projecting that the team will upgrade from shortstop Orlando Arcia by signing free agent Willy Adames.
“Atlanta will very happily keep Arcia around as a versatile backup for two more years at a combined cost of $4M, but they’re going to be at the top of the list of teams bidding for Willy Adames’ services,” according to Miller. “The Dodgers are also expected to be in the mix for Adames. Perhaps the Blue Jays, too, if they are planning for Bo Bichette to walk a year from now. But we’ll take Atlanta for one of the largest non-Soto contracts in this year’s free agent cycle.”
Adames, a 29-year-old who slashed.251/.331/.462 with 32 homers and 21 steals at a top defensive position this season, is expected to get a long-term, nine-figure contract.
“He’s far better than anyone who was available in last winter’s group of shortstops,” Steve Adams and Anthony Franco wrote in MLB Trade Rumors. “Adames should beat nine figures and has an argument for a six- or seven-year deal that puts him in the $150MM+ range.”
With Adames joining the batting order alongside Acuña, Riley, Matt Olson, and Marcell Ozuna, the Braves would begin 2025 with one of baseball’s most powerful offenses. If their core remains healthy, they should be able to make another long run in the World Series.
