Braves’ offseason star we should be most excited of – Opinion

admin | April 27, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The reliever turned starter has been on fire this season.

The Atlanta Braves did not issue a mission statement this offseason to irritate New York Mets supporters. But if it was revealed that they did, would any of us be surprised?

Their winter was relatively mild. The offseason was highlighted by the deal with the Boston Red Sox for Chris Sale. The shredded veteran even managed to secure an extension that will keep him in baseball for a little longer while giving the club some monetary flexibility.

The trade for Jarred Kelenic and the free agent signing of Luis Guillorme were both part of their strategy to tease the Mets. Add in the persistent presence of Travis d’Arnaud, who is now the starter with Sean Murphy out, and Atlanta is more anti-Mets than ever.

However, it is not the Sale or Kelenic trade, or even the Guillorme theft, that should make us green with jealousy. Even Adam Duvall’s signing is moot given Tyrone Taylor’s performance in New York.

The best Braves starting pitcher this year is someone the Mets could have pursued

The Braves quickly agreed on a deal with free agent Reynaldo Lopez. Signed on November 20, the “failed starter” was coming off a wacky season in which he played for three different teams. Lopez was likely the finest free agency bullpen pitcher this offseason, despite being neglected for years as he was chained alongside Lucas Giolito with the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, and eventually the Cleveland Guardians for the whole 2018 season. His 3.27 ERA in 66 innings and 83 strikeouts earned him a three-year, $30 million contract. The contract also contains a $8 million team option for the fourth season.

Despite his success as a reliever over the previous three years, the Braves elected to send Lopez to the bullpen. He had not started consistently since 2020. In 2019, he had the most earned runs in MLB, with 110.

What has he offered the Braves throughout four starts? Lopez is 2-0 with a 0.72 ERA. With just 14 hits allowed in 25 innings, he appears to be a surprise project that the Braves have embraced.

We understand why Lopez never signed with the Mets. The three years of guaranteed money exceeds whatever they gave out this winter. Luis Severino is on a one-year contract. Sean Manaea has a player option for the second season. Even if the Mets had chased him as a relief pitcher, the price would have exceeded what they were willing to spend for any of their bullpen arms in compared to what Atlanta ultimately offered Lopez.

A number other pitchers were in the same position as Lopez. Nick Martinez, who has signed with the Cincinnati Reds, previously served as a starter and reliever for the San Diego Padres after returning from Japan. He has not been nearly as successful. After three starts and two relief outings, he is now 0-1 with a 5.48 ERA and appears to be on track to become a starter only in an emergency. The Reds’ most recent emergency was the loss of Frankie Montas to the International League.

The Mets aren’t the only ones who can be jealous of the Braves. Any team in need of a starting pitcher at a low cost may ask, “what if?”

This is not the same as the Philadelphia Phillies’ free agent acquisition of Spencer Turnbull. He and his 1.33 ERA after five outings were significantly more unpredictable.