Atlanta’s success story isn’t a tale of big-money showdowns or blockbuster signings. The Braves keep their front-office magic simple. They build stars from the ground up, nurture potential, and set players up to stay long-term.
Unlike the Dodgers or Yankees’ power-hungry moves, Atlanta’s secret lies in its player development machine. It seamlessly transitions young talent from the minors to the big leagues and turns under-the-radar signings into bona fide assets.
Over the past few seasons, the Braves have doubled down on another strategy: breathing life back into veterans with promising upside. Charlie Morton has found his groove in Atlanta, and last season, they gave former Boston ace Chris Sale a platform to revive his career.
Reynaldo López also became another successful experiment in Atlanta’s pitcher-reclamation project. So, who’s next in line? Enter Nick Pivetta, a candidate who seems tailor-made for the Braves’ formula.
Zachary D. Rymer from Bleacher Report recently mentioned Pivetta, a Red Sox right-hander with an uneven track record, as a player who could shine with the right team. Pivetta’s biggest hurdle? The long ball. A self-proclaimed “home run magnet,” he’s given up at least 20 homers in each of his seven full MLB seasons and averages 1.5 home runs per nine innings.
Rymer suggests that if Pivetta were to pitch somewhere less punishing than Fenway Park, his performance could improve. Other interested teams could include the Giants, Tigers, and Guardians, which all offer more pitcher-friendly environments.
Now, Pivetta doesn’t boast the surface-level stats of a $60 million pitcher. However, those hidden metrics tell a different story. Leading all pitchers with at least 100 innings in Stuff+ and boasting a strikeout rate of over 11 batters per nine innings since 2023, Pivetta’s raw power and pitch quality are undeniable. For a team like Atlanta, which appreciates advanced analytics, this is exactly the kind of overlooked talent that could flourish with a change in scenery.
Truist Park isn’t a classic pitcher’s haven, but it’s far more forgiving than Fenway, where the dimensions have haunted even the best pitchers. If Pivetta’s inflated Fenway numbers can keep his price tag lower, Atlanta might just nab him for under $50 million—a bargain considering Spotrac’s estimate of a $60 million deal. Anthopoulos and the Braves could further cement their reputation as baseball’s most savvy team-builders with another strategic signing.
In Atlanta’s hands, Pivetta could become the latest chapter in their winning blueprint: scouting, bargain hunting, and creating success where others might see risk.
