While this offseason has been quiet for the Atlanta Braves, things could be heating up in a big way. The only notable move so far? The signing of Jurickson Profar to a three-year deal was a solid move, sure.
Game-changing? Not quite. But don’t let the calm fool you—Alex Anthopoulos is still working, and based on what he’s saying, the Braves might not be done yet.
Pitching Needs Are Piling Up
Here’s what we know: The Braves have some clear needs, and they’re looking. Hard. Anthopoulos himself said, “There’s plenty of really good players that we like, a lot of them, through trade or free agency.”
Translation? The right deal just hasn’t materialized yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t. He even mentioned that conversations could stretch into Spring Training, which is pretty much how modern offseasons work now.
The biggest area of concern? Pitching. And this isn’t just a minor tweak situation—the Braves have some serious holes to fill.
With A.J. Minter off to New York and Joe Jiménez potentially missing the entire season, the bullpen is thinner than anyone would like.
The rotation isn’t in much better shape. Spencer Strider is returning from surgery, and let’s not forget that Max Fried and Charlie Morton walked in free agency. So, yeah, the Braves need arms.
Braves Checking In on Dylan Cease and Michael King
And here’s where things get really interesting. Rumors are swirling that Atlanta has checked in with the Padres about Dylan Cease and Michael King.
That’s right—Cease, the former Cy Young finalist, and King, who impressed after moving to the rotation with San Diego last season.
According to MLB insider Pat Ragazzo, both the Braves and Mets have had conversations with the Padres about these two.
Now, Cease is an absolute strikeout machine. Last season? A 3.47 ERA, 224 strikeouts, and a 4.8 fWAR. The guy is electric. But there’s a catch: he’s represented by Scott Boras.
That means he’s almost certainly hitting free agency after 2025. That makes any trade for him a short-term rental, and that’s not usually Anthopoulos’ style.
Is Michael King the Better Fit?
King, on the other hand, is a different story. After being dealt to San Diego, the right-hander posted a 2.95 ERA and a 3.9 fWAR.
More importantly? He might actually be open to a contract extension. And if there’s one scenario where AA would part with top prospects in a trade, it’s for a guy who’s willing to stick around long-term.
So, will the Braves pull the trigger? Well, nothing is close yet, but if they’re going to make a big splash, this might be the move.
Either way, the clock is ticking, and with Spring Training around the corner, something’s gotta give. Stay tuned.
