The Atlanta Braves made a big statement on Friday evening when they officially announced they have re-signed OF/DH Marcell Ozuna.
Ozuna rejoins the Braves on a four-year deal worth $65 million with a team option for a fifth year.
It was the key announcement that Braves fans had been waiting for this offseason and fills a number of holes, including the No. 3 spot in the order behind Freddie Freeman, and answers the question of who will start in left field.
While it was a sorely-needed signing for the Braves, one can't help but sit and look at what other NL contenders did to improve this offseason and ask if the Braves did enough.
The New York Mets made some major headlines when they traded for Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (and got Carlos Carrasco in that deal as well). The defending World Series Champs just added NL Cy Young Winner Trevor Bauer to a rotation that already had Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, and David Price.
The Braves not only watched the gap between them and the Dodgers become wider, but they also watched their competitive advantages on the Mets shrink.
This doesn't mean they can't beat the Dodgers or that they won't hold off the Mets in the NL East, just that it's going to be tougher.
The Braves can hang their hopes on a few things to change that, and none of them are unrealistic.
If Ronald Acuña Jr. stays healthy this season, gets past the wrist issues that plagued him during the 2020 playoffs, the offense will take another jump forward.
If Mike Soroka gets back on the mound and returns to the Cy Young level we saw from him before his injury, the rotation will be more competitive than it was last season. And if Ian Anderson doesn't feel any sophomore slump, even more so.
The Braves have addressed the needs they had this offseason so far and could be looking to add some more bullpen arms. But you can't help feel other teams not only addressed issues, but took more steps forward than Atlanta has.