Dodgers face possible betrayal: $85M star may defect to…
Could the Atlanta Braves be unexpected power players in this free-agency cycle?
Coming off their first non-first-place finish in the National League East since 2017, the Braves will be out for blood next season. But because they have a litany of superstars returning from injury (Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, Austin Riley, etc.), not many seem to believe that Atlanta will make marquee additions.
However, the rest of the NL has taken a big step forward, and the Braves should feel motivated to keep up in the arms race. The Los Angeles Dodgers are defending World Series champions, and the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies all have fantastic rosters.
What should Atlanta do, then, to boost their odds at making it back to the World Series? How about adding another big bat to the lineup to pair with Acuña in the corner outfield?
In fact, the Braves could kill two birds with one stone by robbing the Dodgers of one of their most reliable bats. Dayn Perry of CBS Sports recently suggested that Atlanta could pursue All-Star outfielder Teoscar Hernández this winter to add to the meat of their order.
“(Hernández is) a reliable power source who inked a one-year free-agent contract last season, which means, at another year older, he might be a bargain once again,” Perry said.
“Then again, he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career with the Dodgers in 2024. Atlanta could use his thump in the outfield.”
Hernández, 31, will be looking to hit it big in free agency after his 33-homer Silver Slugger campaign. Ryan Finkelstein of Just Baseball predicted that the slugger would land a four-year, $85 million contract, which would certainly be a big chunk of Atlanta’s free-agent budget.
If the Braves want to catch the Dodgers in the NL, though, this could be the way to get it done. Hernández could be the second-best hitter to sign a new contract this winter, and Atlanta could use him to turn their already-great lineup into a juggernaut.
