The Atlanta Braves struggled with starting pitching depth in 2024. After losing their ace, Spencer Strider, for the season, the Braves never filled out the fifth spot in the rotation. This offseason, Atlanta has watched Max Fried and Charlie Morton head out the door in free agency. The Braves need to respond by adding a pitcher or two to replace these two stars.
Rowan Kavner of FOX Sports recently predicted the Braves to sign Boston Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta this winter. Pivetta is projected to sign a $60 million deal, per Spotrac. “If the Braves want to keep the honor of the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the majors, Pivetta would help. He pitched much better in 2024 than his 6-12 record or 4.14 ERA would indicate (his expected ERA was 3.51), putting together the 10th-best K/BB ratio among all starters with at least 100 innings,” Kavner wrote. “The qualifying offer he rejected could be a hold-up in finding a new team, but perhaps the Braves – who will be getting a compensation pick after Fried went to the Yankees – would be a willing suitor.”
Pivetta may not be a world-beater, but he would certainly be better than some of the pitchers the Braves have on their roster right now. The Red Sox have already replaced Pivetta by acquiring Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, so Boston won’t be a competitor to Atlanta for the right-hander’s services. If the Braves can land the righty, they would need to add one more pitcher to fill out their rotation.
