If you’re not aware, MLB Trade Rumors released their annual offseason list of the 50 best free agents on the market with their predictions of where each will end up, along with their contract. As I talked about yesterday, three Braves made the list — Freddie Freeman, Eddie Rosario, and Jorge Soler. They predicted Freeman and Rosario would return to Atlanta while Soler would end up walking. However, what about the other guys on the list that MLB Trade Rumors linked to the Braves?
Anthony Rizzo
The one writer out of the three that had Freeman walking in free agency had the Braves replacing him with Anthony Rizzo. For a while, Freeman and Rizzo were viewed as similar talents, but the last few years have put that argument to rest. Freeman has won an MVP award and World Series, while Rizzo has failed to record an OPS over .800 since 2019. Still, if the Braves were to lose Freeman in free agency, Rizzo is a logical replacement.
Justin Verlander
At 39 and coming off Tommy John Surgery, most pitchers would be ready to hang it up, but not Verlander. He still believes he has a lot left in the tank, and it’s understandable when you consider he won the AL Cy Young in 2019 and finished second in 2018. We all know how much Alex Anthopoulos loves one-year deals, and Verlander is a prime candidate to receive one this offseason. If he could return to form with the Braves, it would give Atlanta arguably the best rotation in baseball.
Michael Conforto
Conforto is another candidate that could potentially take a one-year, prove-it deal from someone. The Braves make some sense, considering Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, and Jorge Soler are all unrestricted free agents. MLB Trade Rumors projected Conforto to earn $20 million next season after a sub-par 2021 campaign. However, he was elite during the shortened 2020 season, posting a .927 OPS over 54 games. This could be a fantastic buy-low situation for the Braves, and it also helps that they would be stealing Conforto from a division rival.
Corey Kluber
Noticing a trend? The Braves will be hunting for value this offseason; they’ll also be looking for veterans that can round out a championship roster. Kluber has been on Alex Anthopoulos’ radar before, and he’ll likely be on it again this weekend. 2021 was a mixed bag for the former Cy Young award winner. Injuries, which have been a problem for Kluber for years now, limited him to just 16 starts, but his numbers were decent. He boasted a 3.83 ERA and did toss a no-hitter early in the season against the Rangers. Kluber will be 36 next season, but providing he can stay healthy over the winter and have a full Spring Training, he should provide value to a team in 2022.
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Photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
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