Braves’ Path to Success: Signing High-Upside…
When it comes to free agency, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has a distinct approach. He tends to avoid bidding wars against clubs with deeper pockets and generally steers clear of long-term contracts altogether. Instead, Anthopoulos focuses on short-term deals with players who aren’t typically entering free agency on a high note.
One of the most notable examples of this strategy was ahead of the 2019 season when the Braves signed Josh Donaldson to a one-year deal. Coming off an injury-riddled period, Donaldson represented a gamble on Anthopoulos’s part, but it paid off spectacularly, resulting in 37 home runs and an 11th place finish in the NL MVP race.
More recently, the Braves took a similar approach with Reynaldo Lopez. This time, it wasn’t injuries that hindered Lopez from landing a lucrative nine-figure deal; rather, Anthopoulos recognized the potential in a multi-inning reliever and offered him a chance at starting games again. Lopez seized the opportunity, delivering the first All-Star campaign of his career.
For the Braves, it’s all about uncovering untapped potential—small gambles that can yield significant returns. This strategy has worked well for Anthopoulos, and as we head into the offseason, there are numerous undervalued candidates ripe for consideration.
Nick Pivetta
The Braves had a lot of success this season after acquiring a former Red Sox starting pitcher, so why not go back to the well? Braves fans should be very familiar with Nick Pivetta, who kicked off his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he really struggled to the tune of a 5.50 ERA over four seasons. In fact, Pivetta’s never really had a great season. Over eight years in the majors, he hasn’t once recorded an ERA below 4.00.
However, it’s to no fault of the repertoire. Pivetta has some of the best pure stuff in all of baseball, averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 2023 and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 2024. He set a career low for walks per nine innings (2.2) this season as well. It’s almost mind-boggling that Pivetta hasn’t put it all together and had an All-Star caliber year, but that’s what makes him a perfect candidate for this segment. The Braves don’t have a dire need for starting pitching, but bringing in a high upside veteran like Pivetta on a short-term deal makes a lot of sense.
Walker Buehler
Walker Buehler has already experienced the highest of highs Major League Baseball has to offer. He’s one win away from his second World Series with the Dodgers and has already represented the National League twice in the All-Star Game. Entering the open waters of free agency with that kind of resumé typically leads to a mega-deal, especially when showcasing the type of stuff Buehler has at his peak.
Unfortunately, Buehler has made just 28 starts since the start of the 2022 season, and while he’s had some moments in the playoffs, he posted a 5.38 ERA during the regular season. The upside remains evident, but there’s no way a club could offer him a multi-year deal this offseason after all of the injuries and inconsistencies. It’s in the best interest of him and the club he signs with to settle for a one-year deal, rebuild his value, and enter free agency a better version of himself next offseason.
The Braves love those kind of contracts, but it’s going to be very difficult for them to pry him away from the Dodgers, who surely would love to see this thing through and hand him the lucrative contract he desires.
Tyler O’Neill
Unlike the other two on this list, Tyler O’Neill is actually coming off a really strong year for the Red Sox. He hit 31 homers in just 131 games, so he’s likely to require more than just a one-year deal. However, O’Neill also spent multiple stints on the IL, and that’s been the one glaring issue with him over his career. He’s played more than 100 games in a season just twice over his seven-year career and never played more than 138 games in a season.
As mentioned in the open, the Braves have never shied away from guys with injury histories, as long as they are willing to sign short-term contracts. They did it with Josh Donaldson, and most recently traded for Chris Sale, who hadn’t had a healthy season in five years. Both of those acquisitions worked out well for the organization, and Tyler O’Neill could be the ideal right-handed bat to slot into the Braves outfield.
