With reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.and superstar starting pitcher Spencer Strider both being out for the season the Atlanta Braves and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos will definitely be looking to fill those holes at the trade deadline, but which position should they prioritize, a starting pitcher or an outfielder? The Morning Shift and Braves beat writer for the AJC discussed it earlier today.
Mike Johnson acknowledges that a quality fifth starter is a need for the Braves, but talks about the Braves first four starters in Max Fried, Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, and Reynaldo López being so good that the Braves don’t need to give up quality prospects in the Atlanta’s farm system just to round out an already above average starting rotation.
“I realize there’s a glaring hole as far as the fifth starter goes, but I think it’s by choice more than anything. You’re gonna see Schwellenbach tonight, had a nice outing last time, you have arms that can pitch in that fifth spot. I’m not sure Braves fans on the whole understand how good this rotation has been one thru four, and when you look at the stretch run yes you’d love to have that fifth guy, but when you look at one thru four you’re way way above average in the major leagues if not one of the top three rotations, so I get it you’d love to round that out but I don’t necessarily think it’s just this pressing need where you need to go get rid of three you know names from the farm system or anything else in order to kind of bring that in.”
Atlanta Braves beat writer for the AJC Justin Toscano joined the show later on in the show, and Mike asked him that same question, and he disagreed with Mike.
“If you’re gonna give up a lot you better be getting, in the outfield I mean, you better be getting somebody who is clearly better than Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall, who is clearly like a star-level player, an all-star caliber player like that’s just my feeling, but I think you can improve the rotation. I think if you’re going to use those resources you go after starting pitcher.”
Justin also mentions how a starting pitcher could help the Braves rotation this season and potentially in the future as well. The same cannot be said for Atlanta’s outfield because when Acuña Jr. is healthy they have a full outfield with Acuña, Michael Harris II and Jarred Kelenic after acquiring Kelenic this offseason.
Toscano also makes the point that if the Braves’ lineup still has Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris, Jarred Kelenic, Sean Murphy, Travis d’Arnaud, etc.., and if they start hitting they will of course still miss the reigning NL MVP, but this isn’t the 2021 team that will need the outfield rebuilt.
Toscano also says he believes it’s better to be that “buzzsaw” team that has really good pitching in the postseason that can shut opposing offenses down.
Lastly, Toscano makes the point that the Braves might want another starting pitcher just in case the guys they’ve been relying heavily on for some reason can’t be relied on as heavily down the stretch.
“Can Chris Sale stay healthy? Is Reynaldo López going to pitch at this level for the entire year? Like you have to worry about those things and build in some insurance around that.”
The Braves’ offense has shown signs of life as of late, at the end of the day pitching still seems to win in the postseason, Max Fried is a free agent at the end of the season, and if the Braves have a chance to make their starting rotation even better for the present and future, it might be hard for Alex Anthopoulos to pass that opportunity up.