Welcome to the primary mailbag of 2025! On this one we get into what the Braves, Purple Sox, Cubs, and Mariners may do, the way forward for first basemen Spencer Torkelson and Pete Alonso, outfield choices for the Astros, numerous Alex Bregman locations, and far more.
John asks:
Braves fan right here questioning if the Braves will re-sign AJ Minter?
Invoice asks:
With market decisions dwindling whom may Atlanta pursue within the pitcher/outfield classes? Or will they depend on younger pitching hopes and present outfield choices?
Phillip asks:
What do you see the Atlanta Braves doing? We want one other outfielder, beginning pitcher, and a pair of reduction pitchers. Are we going to be thrifty or are we going for high quality?
Bruce asks:
Can you expect what the often unpredictable Alex Anthopolous will purchase to play LF and SS and SP down the 2025 Atlanta Braves?
In making an attempt to guess how the remainder of the Braves’ offseason will go, it could be useful to first challenge their payroll. President of baseball operations and GM Alex Anthopoulos stated in October payroll could be going up.
The Braves’ actions up to now this offseason don’t match these of a group planning to extend payroll: declining Travis d’Arnaud‘s possibility, dumping Jorge Soler, shifting cash round with the Reynaldo Lopez and Aaron Bummer extensions (although not in a method that helps their CBT payroll), non-tendering Ramon Laureano, and most significantly, failing to signal any notable free brokers. It is also true that Anthopoulos’ October feedback got here earlier than the Braves realized extra details about the timelines of Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, and Joe Jimenez. I might see how that will have an effect on payroll allocation, however not why it will have an effect on the overall payroll.
The Braves seem to have a $220MM CBT payroll at current, and on December eleventh David O’Brien of The Athletic wrote that the Braves “don’t appear inclined to go too far above that $241 million [luxury tax] threshold.” That is after operating a $276MM CBT payroll in 2024. Maybe in his October “payroll goes up” feedback, Anthopoulos was threading a needle the place the group’s 26-man Opening Day precise payroll will improve, however their CBT payroll won’t. Final yr’s Opening Day precise payroll was $222MM and the group is at $197MM at current. It is also doubtless the group want to preserve powder dry for midseason additions.
Given O’Brien’s remark, we in all probability should not challenge far more than $25MM in further AAV to be added this offseason. The second tax threshold of $261MM could possibly be a ceiling on the CBT payroll. So how may Anthopoulos enhance the group with many main names now off the board?
Unlock Subscriber-Unique Articles Like This One With a Commerce Rumors Entrance Workplace Subscription
- Entry weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
- Be a part of unique weekly reside chats with Anthony.
- Take away adverts and assist our writers.
- Entry GM-caliber instruments like our MLB Contract Tracker
