While the Braves remain quiet this offseason, it’s not expected to stay that way with needs in all three facets of the roster.
I’d argue that the outfield is in the most dire need of attention, with Michael Harris II as the only healthy starter returning from the end of 2024. Perhaps Jarred Kelenic proves capable of an everyday role, but even then, the Braves will need another starter until Ronald Acuna Jr. returns.
The bullpen, with Joe Jimenez’s injury and AJ Minter’s free agency, is also a focal point. The club could use another high-leverage reliever. As always with the Braves, the rotation could also use another arm.
As the winter progresses, fewer options remain to fill those voids, but there is a free agent who could serve Atlanta in multiple roles. Perhaps the Braves’ next Reynaldo Lopez in Jeff Hoffman, whose contract demands have been revealed.
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Hoffman is hoping to land a similar contract to the one Clay Holmes signed with the Mets, which was for three years and $38 million. New York plans to utilize Holmes as a starter, similar to Hoffman.
The Braves signed Lopez to a three-year, $30 million deal last offseason but shocked fans when they revealed their intentions of stretching him out as a starter. The gamble worked better than anyone could have imagined, as he turned in a 1.99 ERA and 1.11 WHIP on the season.
Before joining the Phillies, Hoffman had done practically nothing in the majors, accruing less than 1.0 WAR in his career. Then, over a two-year stretch, he posted 3.5 WAR. Across his two seasons with the Braves division rival, Hoffman recorded a 2.28 ERA and 0.944 WHIP over 118.2 innings of work.
Atlanta could use Hoffman as a starter or out of the bullpen. It’s not technically two birds with one stone, but it raises the floor of his potential contribution:
- Worst-case scenario: the Braves sign Jeff Hoffman to a fair market deal to be a high-end reliever.
- Best-case scenario: the Braves sign Jeff Hoffman to a below-market deal to be a starter.
The Braves haven’t been linked to Hoffman, but they usually aren’t linked to free agents before they strike.
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Photographer: Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire
