The Braves have wasted no time moving key pieces and making financial room on their roster, showing they mean business for 2025. Starting with the trade of Jorge Soler, Atlanta has tackled their crowded outfield and DH options and eased some payroll pressure.
And they haven’t stopped there: renegotiated contracts with Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez, plus the decision to decline Travis d’Arnaud’s option, are all signals of a bigger play in the works. But the million-dollar question is: what exactly will Atlanta do with all this newfound financial flexibility?
Let’s break down the possibilities. The Braves could go for a reunion with ace Max Fried—keeping him in the mix has obvious appeal for the rotation. And then there’s the Charlie Morton wild card. Reports suggest the veteran right-hander might delay retirement after all, leaving the door open for another year in Atlanta. But with every option still on the table, the Braves are primed to make a splash this winter, and one of the biggest names is rumored to be on their radar. Nathan Eovaldi.
Fresh off declining a $20 million player option with the Texas Rangers, Eovaldi is reportedly in the Braves’ sights. And it’s not hard to see why Atlanta’s front office would be eyeing him. Eovaldi has that Alex Anthopoulos appeal—he’s a well-established pitcher with a high ceiling who could likely be persuaded into a short-term deal.
This isn’t Anthopoulos’ first rodeo with veteran players on shorter contracts; names like Charlie Morton, Josh Donaldson, and Chris Sale immediately come to mind. They’re all examples of Atlanta’s affinity for seasoned talent on short-term, high-average annual value (AAV) contracts. With Eovaldi’s velocity, control, and experience, he’d fit right in with this trend.
Eovaldi isn’t without his baggage though. His history of elbow issues, including two Tommy John surgeries and a 2019 cleanup procedure with the Red Sox, is a red flag. And while he’s missed time with various ailments in recent seasons, he still made a combined 54 starts in 2023 and 2024. He might not be racking up strikeouts like he once did, but his solid velocity and reliable command would certainly catch the Braves’ eye, especially in a rotation that values aggressive strike-zone pitching.
Let’s talk numbers because it’s all about the price tag at the end of the day. Eovaldi turned down $20 million for next year, so it’s clear he’s not likely to settle for anything less. A two-year deal with a potential team option, somewhere in the range of $20-22 million annually, might be enough to lock him in.
But this could complicate other potential moves. Signing Eovaldi could mean closing the door on a Fried return or a Morton comeback. And then there’s the matter of Willy Adames, a potential trade target who’d add power to the lineup but would strain the budget further if Eovaldi’s deal goes through.
It’s a high-stakes puzzle, and the Braves are carefully moving their pieces. Whether they’ll pull off a deal with Eovaldi or pursue other high-profile targets, one thing’s clear—Atlanta is primed to make moves that could define their 2025 season.
