Braves Rumors: Atlanta has top free agent starter in their sights this offseason

The Atlanta Braves have worked hard in the early portion of the offseason to clear out their roster. Trading Jorge Soler was a strong start towards that end especially with the glut of corner OF/DH options on the roster, but the Braves also negotiated new deals with Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez to make even more room on the 2025 payroll in addition to declining Travis d’Arnaud’s option. What we didn’t know is how Atlanta would use this newfound financial flexibility.

There remains a chance that the Braves could target a reunion with Max Fried and it was reported a few days ago that Charlie Morton may not be retiring after all. However, the entire free agent and trade markets are the Braves’ oyster right now and it looks like they may be aiming quite high.

According to a report from Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, Atlanta is targeting Nathan Eovaldi this offseason after he declined his $20 million player option with the Rangers.

Eovaldi could be a top target for the Braves https://t.co/wmMYoNeApl

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) November 5, 2024

Braves reportedly targeting Nathan Eovaldi to shore up their rotation before 2025

Eovaldi checks a lot of boxes for the quintessential Alex Anthopoulos target. Eovaldi is a seasoned pro with big time stuff who should be able to get signed to a short-term deal at a reasonably high AAV. One need only look at guys like Charlie Morton, Josh Donaldson, and even Chris Sale as examples of very similar sorts of players.

Eovaldi doesn’t come without some warts. He has already had a pair of Tommy John surgeries on his elbow as well as an elbow cleanup procedure with the Red Sox in 2019. Eovaldi has missed a bit of time the last couple of seasons with ailments here and there, but he still has made 54 starts total in 2023 and 2024 combined. Eovaldi’s strikeout stuff may not be elite, but he still throws plenty hard and pounds the strike zone which is certain to appeal to the Braves.

The question ultimately is going to come down to price. Eovaldi just turned down $20 million for 2025, so he probably isn’t going to play for less than that next year. A two year deal with some form of a team option in the $20-22 million a year range feels about right. Such a deal would almost certainly take Fried and/or Morton off the table next year and would complicate pursuit of Willy Adames as well.