The Atlanta front office has a checklist to get through this offseason if they want another championship run in 2025. Alex Anthopoulos, the mastermind GM, has some serious homework. The Braves are a powerhouse—no doubt about that—but there’s always room for improvement, especially after 2024. Let’s dive into the areas the team needs to focus on.
1. Solve the Right-Handed Pitching Puzzle
Now, about that right-handed pitching problem. It’s been lurking for a while, and in 2024, it reared its ugly head. The Braves slashed just .239/.304/.404 against righties, and their 96 wRC+ ranked 19th. Yikes. With as many lefty-mashers as they have, it’s not entirely shocking, but it’s a puzzle that needs solving. The team can’t afford to struggle against righties when over 70% of the league’s pitchers throw from the right side.
What’s the fix? Ideally, adding a left-handed bat to the corner outfield could balance things out. But here’s the twist, it doesn’t have to be a lefty. Willy Adames, a right-handed hitter, is an intriguing free-agent option. He actually dominated righties in 2024, hitting .271/.340/.511 with 28 homers against them. If the Braves can’t land a solid lefty bat, a righty with splits like Adames might be the unconventional but effective move.
2. Boost On-Base Percentage (OBP)
Next up is OBP. The Braves’ lineup is packed with power, but they lean way too much on the long ball. When the home runs aren’t flying, they struggle to manufacture runs which is a problem. The Braves tied for 16th in OBP with a modest .309 in 2024. For a team with championship aspirations, that’s just not cutting it.
Now, Atlanta’s got the talent. Matt Olson, Jorge Soler, Ronald Acuña Jr., Sean Murphy, and Marcell Ozuna all have respectable walk rates, clocking in at 10% or better. But as a team? The Braves still ranked middle-of-the-pack at just 8% walk rate. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II, two aggressive hitters, are in the lineup every day, and while they bring firepower, their free-swinging ways could be holding the team back.
The solution? Upgrade at shortstop or in the corner outfield. Finding a hitter with a patient approach and a knack for getting on base could make the Braves’ offense as explosive as it once was.
3. Increase Speed and Aggression on the Bases
Speed is back in style. MLB’s new rules with bigger bases and limited pickoffs were designed to juice up base stealing, and it’s working. Teams are getting faster and bolder, but not the Braves. In 2024, they ranked dead last in sprint speed. And it showed as they swiped just 62 bases, the sixth-worst mark in the league. Even with Ronald Acuña Jr. leading the team with 16 steals in fewer than 50 games, there’s still a glaring lack of speed.
It’s understandable when two of your big bats, Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna, are among the slowest players in the majors. The Braves need to sprinkle in some more athleticism again, it was clearly missed with Acuña out. Perhaps bringing in a utility player or speedy outfielder who can stretch singles into doubles would put extra pressure on opposing defenses.
4. Secure a Sturdy Rotation Piece
On the surface, the Braves’ rotation was rock-solid in 2024. But take a closer look, and you’ll see potential cracks forming. Max Fried seems likely to depart in free agency, and Charlie Morton may retire. If both exit, that’s a whole lot of innings to fill.
The Braves do have arms in the pipeline, but relying on unproven talent like Spencer Schwellenbach or a veteran Chris Sale, who’s 36, isn’t without risk. Reynaldo Lopez is transitioning back to starting, and Spencer Strider’s coming off an elbow issue. Anthopoulos would be wise to bring in a dependable innings-eater guy, someone who can deliver consistency while the younger arms develop.
It’s a critical offseason for the Braves, and Anthopoulos has his work cut out for him. This team will be primed for another shot at glory in 2025 if he checks these boxes.
