Another day, another big-league chapter closed in Atlanta. The Braves made moves again over the weekend, and this time, it wasn’t about a flashy free agent or under-the-radar reliever.
It was the departure of Ian Anderson—a guy who once pitched them to a World Series title in 2021. But as Spring Training winds down, the front office has made it clear that sentimentality takes a backseat to roster reality.
Walks, Waivers, and the Writing on the Wall
Anderson wasn’t bad this spring. He had a 2.65 ERA over 17 innings, which sounds solid until you look at that walk column. Then you notice 18 walks in 17 innings.
That’s a 9.5 BB/9 rate, and for a team built around pitching depth and efficiency, that’s a red flag waving like a hurricane is blowing it. The Braves weren’t just looking at ERA but at trust. And if you can’t find the zone, you’re a liability when the lights come on.
The key wrinkle here was that Anderson was out of minor-league options. Atlanta couldn’t just stash him in Gwinnett without risking him being claimed by another team. And if you’re betting on a former first-round pick with postseason pedigree clearing waivers? That’s a bet you’re not going to win.
Suarez Joins Braves, Questions Come With Him
What did Atlanta get in return? José Suarez—a lefty who, quite frankly, hasn’t done much to inspire confidence lately. A 6.02 ERA in 2024, a WHIP north of 1.60, and more control issues of his own with a walk rate near 5 per nine. It’s not exactly a blockbuster addition.
Suarez, like Anderson, is also out of options. This puts Atlanta in a bind—he either breaks camp with the big-league club or risks the same waiver limbo Anderson would’ve faced.
But there’s a subtle difference here. Suarez already cleared waivers once last year, so the Braves might be more comfortable rolling the dice on sneaking him through if it comes to that.
Don’t rule out Atlanta giving him a shot out of the bullpen. He’s left-handed, under team control through 2026, and he struck out 13 batters in 11 innings this spring.
If there’s one thing this front office does well, it’s seeing value where others don’t. Do they think Suarez’s breaking ball has untapped upside? He might be the latest reclamation project in a long line of successful ones.
The End of an Era—Quiet But Significant
This move stings more than it shocks for Braves fans. Anderson was never the same after his electric start in 2020 and postseason heroics in 2021. Injuries, command issues, and now a roster crunch finally caught up with him. It’s a tough goodbye, but it was always heading in this direction.
In the bigger picture, this isn’t just about Suarez or Anderson—it’s about how the Braves operate. They’re cold-blooded when they need to be, constantly reshaping the roster to maximize control, flexibility, and performance. It’s how they stay at the top.
As Opening Day approaches, Atlanta’s roster is still shifting. There are more moves to come. Anderson may be gone, but the Braves’ mission remains the same: find the best 26 and keep the next 14 ready.
