Let’s jump right into it and talk about the Atlanta Braves offseason. After an impressive run of sustained success, the Braves find themselves facing a dilemma—and it’s one they can’t sidestep any longer: the shortstop position. While Orlando Arcia’s 2023 resurgence helped ease the loss of Dansby Swanson, his 2024 campaign didn’t quite inspire confidence. The glove was shaky, the bat disappeared, and Atlanta’s title aspirations demanded more stability up the middle.
Willy Adames is a name swirling around the free agency rumor mill and a potential fit for the Braves’ most glaring need. Adames has a bat that carries real pop, and while his defensive metrics hover around league average, he’s no liability. Pair that offensive upside with Atlanta’s robust infield core, and you’ve got the ingredients for a lineup that could stack up against the perennial powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.
The big question: Will Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos break from tradition and cut the check? Anthopoulos has long favored team-friendly deals and homegrown extensions over splashy free-agent signings. Dansby Swanson’s exit to the Chicago Cubs exemplified this philosophy—Atlanta wasn’t ready to overpay for Swanson after his career year in 2022. But two years later, the roster calculus might shift. If the Braves are serious about keeping pace in the National League, adding Adames could be the move.
Now, consider the competition—or lack thereof. Teams like the Yankees, Phillies, Astros, and Mets all have their shortstop situations sorted. Even the Dodgers, often a free-agent juggernaut, seem unlikely to splurge on Adames with their current flexibility. That leaves the Giants, but they’re stuck in the doldrums of mediocrity, hardly an attractive option for a player like Adames.
The Braves can offer Adames what he reportedly desires most according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers: the opportunity to remain a shortstop. While he’s expressed a willingness to shift around the infield, that’s clearly a second-choice scenario. Atlanta allows him to compete for championships, slot into a potent lineup, and stay where he’s most comfortable.
Will Anthopoulos strike while the iron is hot, or will his preference for budget-conscious roster construction prevail? That’s the million-dollar question—well, multi-million if we’re being literal. The pieces are in place for the Braves to make a compelling case. The ball and the checkbook are in their court.
