The Atlanta Braves and their GM, Alex Anthopoulos, are gearing up for a comeback season in 2025 after a brutal 2024 that saw the team hampered by relentless injuries and an ever-shifting lineup. Hopes were high for the Braves coming off a sensational 2023, but reality had other plans.
The injury list kept growing from key players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider missing significant time to midseason setbacks for stars like Austin Riley, Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, and Sean Murphy. Even ace pitcher Chris Sale, who was having a Cy Young-caliber year, saw his season cut short right when the Braves clawed their way into the postseason. It felt like everything that could go wrong did.
It’s looking like 2025 might finally be a year when Atlanta’s fortunes change for the better. Injuries are inevitable in baseball, but it’s rare for bad luck to strike twice as hard. Expect the Braves to come out swinging with the return of Atlanta’s core players and a new offseason strategy in play. Right at the heart of it is General Manager Alex Anthopoulos. The mastermind behind some of baseball’s savviest moves has wasted no time setting the stage for a resilient roster.
One of the brightest spots of Anthopoulos’s free agency maneuvers last offseason was the signing of Reynaldo Lopez who delivered a breakout year for the Braves’ bullpen. He stepped up for an injury-riddled rotation. Lopez went from a mid-tier reliever to an All-Star ace, proving he could anchor a bullpen or even start when needed. His performance was invaluable, making Lopez an undeniable linchpin in Atlanta’s pitching strategy. With Spencer Strider going down, this was the lift the Braves needed.
Anthopoulos knew he couldn’t risk letting Lopez slip away. Signing him to a three-year, $30 million extension — at $8 million for 2025, $14 million for 2026, and back down to $8 million in 2027 — is an absolute steal. Lopez’s contract also strategically lowers his salary for 2025, freeing up cap space for further moves.
It is a classic Anthopoulos move. He locked down a key contributor well below market value and positioning the team for a strong run next season. The deal isn’t without its risks, though; Lopez has had injury issues in the past, and there’s always a question of whether he can replicate his phenomenal 2024 season. But the upside is hard to deny when you’re looking at a 1.99 ERA over 135.2 innings and 25 starts.
Anthopoulos also secured Aaron Bummer to keep the bullpen on stable footing. These steps are part of a larger strategy for pitching depth. That is a key focus as questions loom over the rotation with Chris Sale’s uncertain health and the possible departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton. When healthy, a rotation led by Strider, Sale, and Lopez is a force to be reckoned with, but the Braves know they need to shore up depth to avoid another year of scrambling for starters.
Anthopoulos’s careful handling of Lopez’s contract and his proactive approach to bolstering the bullpen show he’s intent on making 2025 different. The Braves will have the depth and resilience they lacked in 2024 if Lopez can maintain his All-Star form and the rest of Atlanta’s rotation holds up. With a fortified roster and renewed health, the Braves are poised for another shot at October glory.
