<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-atlanta-angels-agree-pitching-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves, Angels agree to pitching trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0-Atlanta-Angels-agree-to-pitching-trade-0.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves, Angels agree to pitching trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T11:42:55-08:00">December 20th, 11:42am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T11:42:55-08:00">December 20th, 11:42am</time><address><a>Dan Fappiano</a>Dan Fappiano is a Connecticut based sports journalist and a graduate of both Tunxis Community College and Central Connecticut State University. Dan has spent time covering high school and professional sports in both the print and online medium. He hopes to see his beloved Chicago Bears win a Super Bowl someday.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/angels-news-los-angeles-signs-yusei-kikuchi-63-million-contract">Angels have been more active than many expected</a> throughout the offseason, while the Atlanta <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-trade-world-series-champ-royals">Braves are seemingly always open to a trade</a>. Their most recent deal will fly under the radar, but will affect both team’s pitching depth.</p><p>The Braves <a href="https://x.com/Braves/status/1870168821891297619" rel="noopener">have traded</a> left-handed pitcher Davis Daniel to the Angels for right-hander pitcher Mitch Farris, the team announced.</p><p>Daniel was selected by the Angels in the 2019 MLB Draft. After a two-year hiatus due to the CO-VID19 pandemic, he was finally able to make his professional debut in 2021. By 2023, he was ready for his MLB debut.</p><p>That first season saw him record an impressive 2.19 ERA but a worrying 9/9 K/BB ratio in three appearances. He was able to up his K/BB ratio to 28/6 in 2024, however, it came with a disastrous 6.23 ERA. He was ultimately designated for assignment by the Angels.</p><p>He has flashed at times during his 73 games at the minor league level, ultimately holding a 20-23 record with a 4.42 ERA and a 401/112 K/BB ratio. The Braves will hope they can reignite a spark once he arrives in the organization.</p><p>The Angels are hoping for the same with Farris. The righty was selected in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB Draft and has quickly climbed the ranks. He moved from High-A to Double-AA in 2024 alone, appearing in 25 total games on the year. He put up a 4-6 record with a 3.08 ERA and a 131/43 K/BB ratio.</p><p>It’ll take some time for Farris to be prepared for the major league level, unless the Angels call him up early. However, Los Angeles won’t mind on a trade like this. Farris oozes potential, with a career 2.96 ERA and a 152/49 K/BB ratio. He doesn’t have the major league experience that Daniel has, but Farris could end up being a diamond in the rough down the road.</p><p>When Opening Day rolls around, Angels and Braves fans may not even remember this trade. But if Mitch Farris or Davis Daniel breaks out, their respective general manager will be labeled a genius.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves, Angels agree to pitching trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-sign-veteran-outfielder-1-year-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves sign veteran outfielder to 1-year contract');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0Atlanta-signs-veteran-outfielder-to-1-year-contract0.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves sign veteran outfielder to 1-year contract</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-15T09:11:50-08:00">December 15th, 9:11am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-15T09:12:12-08:00">December 15th, 9:12am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Braves are adding some depth to their outfield. Atlanta is <a href="https://x.com/Braves/status/1868321378870735047" rel="noopener">agreeing to a one-year contract</a> with outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, per the team’s social media. It is a non-guaranteed contract.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-marlins-could-trade-6-players-deadline-day">De La Cruz spent the 2024 season with the Miami Marlins</a> and Pittsburgh Pirates. The veteran batted .233 on the year, with 21 home runs and 68 runs batted in. He joins an Atlanta team that’s hoping for big things in the National League this coming season.</p><p>The Braves finished off 2024 with a 89-73 record. Atlanta made a brief appearance in the playoffs.</p><h2>The Braves want a stronger postseason push in 2025</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Max-Fried-with-Atlanta-Braves-2.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>De La Cruz could definitely help the Braves. The outfielder has played in more than 300 games over the last two seasons, with Miami and Pittsburgh. De La Cruz is a lifetime .253 hitter with 58 career home runs.</p><p>The outfielder also adds a lot of defensive depth and versatility. De La Cruz has played all three positions in the outfield, so the Braves can use him in different positions on any given night.</p><p>While playing for the Marlins, De La Cruz established himself as a threat to get on base. He hit 55 home runs for the Marlins since 2021. Miami ended up losing him along with several other talented players during a disastrous 2024 season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/pirates-news-pittsburgh-outfield-boost-marlins-trade">He was dealt to the Pirates at the trade deadline</a> in order to help that team reach the postseason.</p><p>The Braves limped into the 2024 NL playoffs, after getting a win at the very end of the season to earn a postseason berth. Atlanta immediately got knocked out of the playoffs, after losing to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card series.</p><p>Atlanta is looking for brighter things in 2025. The Braves are used to being one of the top teams in the National League, but the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets have taken control of the NL East. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-juan-soto-dynasty-vision-joining">The Mets just signed Juan Soto</a> to an incredibly expensive contract after going to the NLCS. New York has established itself as possibly the biggest threat in the division.</p><p>The Braves also got dealt a tough blow this offseason as pitcher Max Fried decided to leave the team in free agency. Fried signed a massive contract with the New York Yankees, as that team hopes to go back to a World Series. The loss of Fried means the Braves are short a key hurler in their rotation.</p><p>The Braves last won a World Series in 2021. Atlanta won six consecutive division titles from 2018-2023.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves sign veteran outfielder to 1-year contract

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/3-moves-braves-must-make-to-replace-max-fried');   ga('set', 'title', '3 moves Braves must make to replace Max Fried');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0X-moves-Braves-must-make-to-replace-Max-Fried0.jpg"></figure><h1>3 moves Braves must make to replace Max Fried</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-13T10:06:48-08:00">December 13th, 10:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-13T10:06:48-08:00">December 13th, 10:06am</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Braves have not made a big offseason splash yet. They <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-max-fried-ny-agree-8-year-218-million-deal-free-agency">lost star pitcher Max Fried to the New York Yankees</a> on the biggest contract ever given to a left-handed pitcher. Now, they have a massive hole in their starting rotation. There are still plenty of free agents available, such as Sean Manaea, Walker Buehler, and Nick Pivetta, who could be valuable adds to the Braves.</p><p>The Braves have over $56 million <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/atlanta-braves/yearly" rel="noopener">in tax space</a>, according to Spotrac. That is more than enough to land any of these pitchers and have money for other moves. They have a tremendous amount of space because of the long-term contracts they signed many of their best players to before they became stars. The Braves had a rough season because they had a lot of injuries, so they should keep their core together. Adding a pitcher to replace Fried will help them this season and in the long run.</p><p>Which of these pitchers would be the best fit? And how can the Braves continue to add and keep up with the New York Mets?</p><h2><b>Braves snag Sean Manaea from the Mets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sean-Manaea-with-NY-Mets-3.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Mets have made the move of the offseason <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-juan-soto-first-shot-mets-yankees-rivalry">by signing Juan Soto.</a> No addition will create as much of an impact on the 2025 season and the next decade of Major League Baseball. The NL East has belonged to the Braves for nearly a decade but an injury-filled campaign saw them bow out in the Wild Card Series last year. They cannot let the Mets gain momentum and they can prevent that by signing Sean Manaea.</p><p>The Mets were not expected to be any good last year because of their pasted-together rotation. And then Manaea had a career year. They want to bring him back but the focus has been on Soto and the Braves could swoop in and snag him. Manaea revitalized his career by mimicking Chris Sale’s arm angle. This would give him a chance to be teammates with Sale.</p><p>Sale and Spencer Strider top the rotation with high expectations. Those two Cy Young candidates allow the Braves to shop in the second tier of starters and let Corbin Burnes head elsewhere. Strider is not expected to return from his UCL injury for opening day, so bringing Manaea in could be huge for their start.</p><h2><b>Walker Buehler finishes off his career in Atlanta</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-sean-manaea-contract-update-wake-nathan-eovaldi-deal">Manaea is expected to get more money than Eovaldi</a>, which was three years and $75 million. If that is too rich for Atlanta’s blood, Walker Buehler would be the depth addition to make. Last year, the Braves traded for Sale and gave him an extension very few teams would have given him. They saw something others did not and he won the Cy Young. Do not rule out something similar with Buehler.</p><p>The veteran struggled in the regular season for the Dodgers. He missed the entire 2023 season with injuries, came back for 2024, and put up a career-worst 72 ERA+. In 2021, he put up a league-high 171 ERA+. His arm injuries impacted him but if the Braves can fix him, it would be a great addition to the team.</p><p>Buehler shined in the playoffs, finishing off the World Series on short rest. The Dodgers replaced him with Blake Snell, a clear upgrade, but that does not mean he is washed. The Braves should consider bringing Buehler in on a cheap, one-year contract.</p><h2><b>Nick Pivetta comes in as an under-the-radar add</b></h2><p>There has not been much conversation about Nick Pivetta this offseason. His 2024 team, the Boston Red Sox, added Garrett Crochet in the biggest trade of the winter so far. That does not mean they won’t bring Pivetta back but it does mean someone could swoop in and grab him. He is the type of player the Braves pick up and revitalize their career. It could happen again with Pivetta.</p><p>The Athletic projects Pivetta’s contract at three years, $48 million. That is between the Manaea level and the Buehler level, which may be where the Braves want to live. Don’t be surprised if Pivetta pitches big games for the Braves on a reasonable contract for the next few years.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 moves Braves must make to replace Max Fried

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-john-smoltz-yankees-max-fried-signing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ex-Braves star John Smoltz reacts to Yankees’ Max Fried signing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/John-Smoltz-reacts-to-Yankees-Max-Fried-signing.jpg"></figure><h1>Ex-Braves star John Smoltz reacts to Yankees’ Max Fried signing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-12T14:59:47-08:00">December 12th, 2:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-12T15:18:13-08:00">December 12th, 3:18pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Braves lost starting pitcher Max Fried to the New York Yankees in MLB free agency. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-max-fried-ny-agree-8-year-218-million-deal-free-agency">Fried agreed to a $218 million contract with the Yankees</a> after previously spending his entire career in Atlanta. Former Braves star and MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz <a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1867283047273705611" rel="noopener">reacted to</a> Fried joining the Yankees during a recent appearance on Foul Territory.</p><p>“I thought that’s the best thing the Yankees could have done,” Smoltz said of the Fried signing. “I think when you lose and you’ve got that ‘oh my gosh’ feeling… Yankees fans are like, ‘<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-what-offered-juan-soto-massive-mets-contract">we didn’t sign (Juan) Soto</a>, now what?’</p><p>“Well, now I think they’re going to be able to do multiple things… Can they be healthy is the other question. Max Fried… he’s an elite pitcher. To pitch in Yankee Stadium with that staff now, it’s kind of in a different way. Instead of the Yankees always trying to out-score everybody, I think they’re gonna run-prevent people.</p><p>“They’re gonna have to clean up defensively, no doubt. They gotta get fundamentally better… But I think they’re gonna pitch as good as anybody in that division.”</p><p>Smoltz believes the signing will benefit the Yankees in a pivotal manner. The former Braves star is excited to see how Fried performs with his new ballclub. When healthy, Fried is among the best pitchers in baseball. He has dealt with some injury trouble over the years, something that Smoltz doesn’t expect to be too problematic in New York.</p><p>“I think he will stay healthy,” Smoltz continued “That’s been the question mark for him with Atlanta. I’m a believer, sometimes, when you get that contract as a pitcher, you’re free to pitch a little bit discomfort… Before, you’re more, I know the word is ‘stay healthy so you can get paid,’ and maybe that frees it up for a lot of pitchers if they get their contract.”</p><p>The Braves will attempt to continue playing a competitive brand of baseball despite losing the star left-handed pitcher. Smoltz sounds confident that Fried will play a pivotal role in New York with the Yankees.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ex-Braves star John Smoltz reacts to Yankees’ Max Fried signing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-max-fried-expected-sign-yankees-red-sox');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Max Fried expected to sign with Yankees or Red Sox');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Max-Fried-expected-to-sign-with-Yankees-or-Red-Sox.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Max Fried expected to sign with Yankees or Red Sox</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-08T11:55:24-08:00">December 8th, 11:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-08T11:55:24-08:00">December 8th, 11:55am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Where will Max Fried go? The pitcher, most recently with the Braves, seems destined to move on from Atlanta, and it appears he is heading north to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-yankees-to-meet-with-max-fried-again-after-90-minute-zoom">either the New York Yankees</a> or Boston Red Sox.</p><p>Fried has played his entire MLB career with the Braves to this point, but as his rumored deal continues to rise, Atlanta may no longer be home for much longer. Instead, the Yankees and Red Sox, bitter AL East rivals, are reportedly more than interested in signing Fried, <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2024/12/08/mlb-rumors-juan-soto-contract-700-million-winter-meetings/76846675007/" rel="noopener">who, along with</a> Corbin Burns, is highly sought-after on the free agency market, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.</p><p>“[Burns and Fried] haven’t thrown a pitch in more than two months, but their stocks have soared thanks to the contracts given to pitchers whose resumes pale in comparison,” Nightengale wrote. “When Matthew Boyd receives a 2-year, $29 million contract without throwing more than 79 innings since 2019, when Luis Severino is getting $67 million over three years and Blake Snell is making an average annual salary of $36.4 million, Burnes and Fried should top $200 million. The San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox all lurk.</p><p>“The only drama is whether Fried goes ahead and signs before Burnes, or lets Burnes set the bar. Fried priced himself out of Atlanta, but is expected to sign with the Yankees or Red Sox. If <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-mlb-insider-plan-b-if-they-dont-re-sign-juan-soto">Soto goes to the Mets</a>, Fried could find himself in a nice bidding war <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-red-sox-shift-attention-to-2-time-all-star-after-losing-blake-snell-sweepstakes">between the Red Sox</a> and Yankees.”</p><h2><b>Max Fried drawing big interest from Yankees, Red Sox</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-Max-Fried-pitching-in-the-2024-MLB-playoffs.jpg"><figcaption>Denis Poroy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Whether the massive, potentially $750 million domino of Soto drops <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-corbin-burnes-max-fried-get-juan-soto-advice-in-free-agency">before the pitchers decide</a> where they want to go remains to be seen, but it certainly appears that each will be getting the massive payday that eluded multiple players, including Snell, last offseason.</p><p>Fried has been in MLB since 2017 when he made his debut with the Braves. Since then, he has earned two All-Star selections, three Gold Glove awards, and finished in the top five of NL Cy Young voting twice. Additionally, Fried helped Atlanta win its first World Series title in more than 25 years.</p><p>This past season, his eighth in MLB, Fried started 29 games and recorded a 3.25 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 1.164 WHIP, and 128 ERA+. The season was Fried’s worst in some time; in each of the four seasons preceding 2024, Fried had not recorded an ERA+ of less than 143 or ERA over 3.04.</p><p>Despite the down season, Fried, who will turn 31 next month, is still one of the most attractive options for contending teams in need of high-quality starting pitchers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Max Fried expected to sign with Yankees or Red Sox

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-braves-sign-ex-guardians-reliever-to-deal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves sign ex-Guardians reliever to deal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-news-Atlanta-signs-ex-Guardians-reliever-to-deal.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves sign ex-Guardians reliever to deal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-29T23:22:53-08:00">November 29th, 11:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-29T23:22:53-08:00">November 29th, 11:22pm</time><address><a>Nathan Yasis</a>Nathan Yasis is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, specializing in the NBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Friday night, the Atlanta Braves revealed that they have inked former Guardians’ right-handed pitcher Connor Gillispie to a one-year, <a href="https://www.twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/1862686263649640616" rel="noopener">non-guaranteed deal</a> for the 2025 season.</p><p>As stated on MLB’s page about non-guaranteed contracts, Gillispie’s deal will become guaranteed if he secures a spot on the Major League roster following Spring Training.</p><p>To clarify any potential confusion, the newly signed right-handed pitcher Connor Gillispie is not former MLB infielder Conor Gillaspie making a comeback. The 25-year-old Gillispie, who shares a similar name, is a pitcher and is 10 years younger than his namesake.</p><p>Gillispie made his MLB debut in 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians, appearing in three games. Over eight innings pitched, he posted a 2.25 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and recorded eight strikeouts.</p><p>In addition to his three MLB appearances, Connor Gillispie made 27 appearances, including 15 starts, for Triple-A Columbus. He finished with a 4.05 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and limited opponents to a .221 batting average.</p><h2><b>The Braves trying to find a diamond in the rough in Connor Gillispie</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Connor-Gillispie-pitching-for-the-Guardians.jpg"><figcaption>David Dermer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>According to his MLB.com profile, Gillispie was designated for assignment on November 19 and became a free agent on November 22. Known for unearthing hidden talents and turning them into success stories, the Braves will look to see what comes of this acquisition.</p><p>However, if his MLB stats are indicative of his true capabilities as a pitcher, that characterization may prove to be an inaccurate one.</p><p>The Braves clearly see potential in Gillispie, despite his small sample size. He could become a valuable addition to their pitching staff, continuing a trend of the Braves successfully developing pitchers with untapped potential.</p><p>While the Braves have previously surprised with rotation additions like Reynaldo Lopez, Gillispie is more likely to bolster a bullpen dealing with key injuries, including Joe Jimenez and the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-aj-minter-surgery-update">potential loss of AJ Minter</a>.</p><p>The Braves continue to strengthen their pitching depth for next season. After initially opting to non-tender them, they have now signed Ray Kerr and former prospect Royber Salinas to minor league contracts.</p><p>Gillispie will get a chance to earn a spot in Atlanta’s pitching staff, whether as part of the starting rotation or as a long-relief option out of the bullpen.</p><h2><b>Atlanta cutting costs for the 2025 season</b></h2><p>The actions of Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos suggest a clear focus on cost-cutting as the team prepares for the 2025 season, even if it hasn’t been explicitly stated.</p><p>Atlanta’s cost-cutting approach is evident in the decision not to extend a one-year arbitration deal to Ramón Laureano. Despite MLB Trade Rumors projecting his value at just $6 million for 2025—a modest sum for a player of his caliber—the Braves opted to part ways.</p><p>The evidence of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-braves-free-agency-priorities-focus">Atlanta’s cost-conscious strategy continues to mount</a>. As Ken Rosenthal highlights, the Braves restructured contracts for Reynaldo López and Aaron Bummer, trimming over $4 million from their payroll.</p><p>They also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-make-marcell-ozuna-travis-darnaud-contract-decisions">declined Travis d’Arnaud’s $8 million option</a> for 2025 and non-tendered Griffin Canning, the pitcher acquired for Jorge Soler, in another clear effort to cut costs.</p><p>By trading Jorge Soler, the Braves shed the two years and $26 million left on his contract, parting ways with a proven offensive contributor in the process.</p><p>Rosenthal suggested the Braves might aim to stay under the $241 million luxury tax threshold for 2025 after exceeding it the past two years. With $217 million already committed, Atlanta has some financial flexibility to build a competitive roster.</p><p>However, they face a challenging start to the season, as Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. are expected to begin the year on the injured list.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves sign ex-Guardians reliever to deal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-orioles-braves-interest-nathan-eovaldi');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Orioles, Braves among 2 teams showing interest in Nathan Eovaldi');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11-27-24-eovaldi-featured.jpeg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Orioles, Braves among 2 teams showing interest in Nathan Eovaldi</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-27T09:29:38-08:00">November 27th, 9:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-27T09:29:38-08:00">November 27th, 9:29am</time><address><a>David Korn</a>David Korn is an MLB associate editor at ClutchPoints. He is also a producer at MLB Network Radio and covers college basketball for A10Talk. David graduated from George Washington in 2023, where he was the radio play-by-play broadcaster for their Men's and Women's Basketball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Now that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-blake-snell-lands-dodgers-5-year-182-million-deal">Blake Snell is off the board after signing a five-year, $182 million</a> deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, teams are pivoting to other pitching options. Two of those teams, the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves, appear to be looking elsewhere for a top-end arm.</p><p>The Orioles and Braves are <a href="https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1861802040155951385" rel="noopener">looking at</a> signing free agent starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi according to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi on Wednesday.</p><p>“The Orioles and Braves are among the teams with interest in free agent Nathan Eovaldi, as I mentioned on<br>@MLBNetwork this morning,” Morosi wrote.</p><p>Both of these teams, who may each have significant holes at the front of their rotations, make sense as potential landing spots for Eovaldi. If the Orioles are not able to re-sign Corbin Burnes and the Braves are not able to re-sign Max Fried, they will need to refurbish their rotation. A veteran like Eovaldi would fit right in on a contending team like the Orioles or Braves.</p><p>However, Morosi also notes that other teams in addition to the Orioles and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-braves-nathan-eovaldi-free-agency-update">Braves are interested in Eovaldi.</a> If Fried and Burnes become too expensive, then a player like Eovaldi in the next tier of free agent starting pitchers could become an especially hot commodity this offseason.</p><p>At 34 years old, Eovaldi would likely be seeking a higher-AAV, shorter-term deal.</p><h2><b>Nathan Eovaldi’s 2024 season with the Texas Rangers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/11-27-24-eovaldi-image.jpeg"><figcaption>© Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Even during his age-34 season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rangers-news-nathan-eovaldi-truth-bomb-8-strikeouts-reds">Eovaldi showed that he can still be a reliable option</a> at the top of any team’s rotation. In 29 starts with the Texas Rangers, Eovaldi went 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA and struck out 166 batter in 170 2/3 innings.</p><p>A two-time All-Star, Eovaldi is most-known for his postseason performance, helping lead his teams to World Series championships in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox and in 2023 with the Rangers. Eovaldi is 9-3 in 17 career postseason appearances with a 3.05 ERA. He is most known for his appearance in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series with the Red Sox against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he pitched six innings in relief before allowing a walk-off home run, preserving the Red Sox bullpen the 18-inning marathon.</p><p>Both the Orioles and Braves had disappointing postseason performances in 2024, both being swept in the Wild Card round. A player like Eovaldi who has dominated in the postseason could be just what they need to become true World Series contenders.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Orioles, Braves among 2 teams showing interest in Nathan Eovaldi

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-atlanta-trade-2024-offseason-cody-bellinger');   ga('set', 'title', '1 trade Braves must make during offseason');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1-trade-Braves-must-make-during-offseason.jpg"></figure><h1>1 trade Braves must make during offseason</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-26T11:53:37-08:00">November 26th, 11:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-26T11:53:37-08:00">November 26th, 11:53am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Braves have been one of the more consistent MLB teams over the years. Atlanta still managed to make a postseason run in 2024 despite Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider both dealing with injuries. The Braves need outfield help for the 2025 season, and according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Atlanta’s “preference” is to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5945606/2024/11/25/mlb-offseason-notebook-braves-ramon-laureano-angels-nationals/" rel="noopener">add a left-handed bat</a>.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ronald-acuna-jr-spencer-strider-opening-day-shut-down">Acuna is not expected to be ready for Opening Day</a>. Michael Harris II is the Braves center fielder. He is also the team’s only healthy reliable outfielder on the roster at the moment. Jarred Kelenic can help matters, but the Braves need to add an outfield bat after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/angels-news-la-jorge-soler-trade-braves">trading Jorge Soler</a> and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-surprising-ramon-laureano-decision">moving on from Ramon Laureano</a>.</p><p>So with the Braves reportedly seeking a left-handed bat and in need of outfield help, Atlanta will be linked to a number of players. They could always try to acquire a player in free agency, but the Braves can also turn to the trade market.</p><h2><b>Potential Braves trade options</b></h2><p>There are not many outfielders on the trade market this offseason. A player such as Mike Yastrzemski could make sense for Atlanta. The 34-year-old San Francisco Giants outfielder is under contract through the 2025 season. Acquiring him would be a short-term commitment for Atlanta.</p><p>Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox and even Baltimore Orioles All-Star Cedric Mullins could be trade candidates. There is one player who would be an especially intriguing fit, though.</p><h2><b>Cody Bellinger</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMAGN-35.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Cody Bellinger, who opted into his contract for 2025, has been mentioned as a trade candidate. Acquiring him would come with risk, as Bellinger has a $25 million player option for the 2026 season. He likely will test free agency if he performs well in 2025, but that is not guaranteed to happen.</p><p>In 2024, Bellinger slashed just .266/.325/.426/.751 across 130 games played. He also hit 18 home runs and 23 doubles as well as recording nine stolen bases.</p><p>Bellinger’s season was difficult at times. Still, he would present an upgrade for the Braves given their current needs. Also, it goes without saying, but Bellinger’s upside is worth the risk.</p><p>The 2019 National League MVP Award winner is just one reason removed from a 2023 campaign that saw him slash .307/.356/.525/.881. Bellinger also finished with his highest home run total since the aforementioned 2019 campaign, ultimately hitting 26 home runs in 2023. He stole 20 bases as well.</p><p>Bellinger is also quite versatile. He can realistically play anywhere in the outfield while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense. Bellinger can play first base if necessary, but Matt Olson will handle first base duties, of course.</p><h2><b>Will Braves trade for Cody Bellinger?</b></h2><p>Atlanta does not always make the most noise in the trade market. They do want to play a competitive brand of baseball, though, and trading for a player such as Bellinger would help in that regard.</p><p>With that being said, they could opt to go in a different direction. Mullins, Yastrzemski and Abreu could help Atlanta in 2025. Mullins, a 2021 All-Star, could make an especially big impact.</p><p>Whether it is Cedric Mullins, Cody Bellinger or someone else, the Braves will likely look to add another outfielder or two through trades or free agency.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 trade Braves must make during offseason

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-braves-free-agency-priorities-focus');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Braves’ free agency priorities come into focus');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MLB-rumors-Braves-free-agency-priorities-come-into-focus.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Braves’ free agency priorities come into focus</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-25T11:45:48-08:00">November 25th, 11:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-25T11:45:48-08:00">November 25th, 11:45am</time><address><a>Russell Steinberg</a>Russell Steinberg covers Major League Baseball and the New York Liberty for ClutchPoints. A baseball and basketball lifer, he has written for Boardroom, SLAM, SB Nation, The Next, and more. He graduated from NYU in 2012 and still returns to serve as PA announcer and occasional broadcaster for the school’s basketball and volleyball teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos doesn’t have to say it outright; the evidence speaks for itself. The Braves are looking to cut costs headed in to 2025.</p><p>Look no further than Atlanta’s decision not to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-surprising-ramon-laureano-decision">offer Ramon Laureano</a> a one-year deal in arbitration. With MLB Trade Rumors projecting Laureano to be <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2025.html" rel="noopener">worth around $6 million</a> for 2025, bringing him back would have hardly been a major expense. In fact, as The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal pointed out, the Braves of the past may have even been <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5945606/2024/11/25/mlb-offseason-notebook-braves-ramon-laureano-angels-nationals/" rel="noopener">willing to overpay</a> to retain him.</p><p>There’s a reason they didn’t.</p><p>“The team faces a considerable amount of uncertainty, from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-max-fried-5-best-free-agency-destinations">left-hander Max Fried</a> and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-free-agent-charlie-morton-explains-why-he-plans-to-pitch-in-2025">righty Charlie Morton</a> possibly departing to righty Spencer Strider and right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. starting the season on the injured list to setup man Joe Jiménez potentially missing the entire year,” Rosenthal wrote. “President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos is trying to save wherever he can.”</p><p>There’s plenty more evidence. Rosenthal points to the team restructuring Reynaldo López’s and Aaron Bummer’s contracts to save more than $4 million as well as declining Travis d’Arnaud’s $8 million option for next year. Atlanta also non-tendered Griffin Canning, the pitcher they received <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jorge-soler-trade-grades-braves-angels-deal">in exchange for Jorge Soler</a> — another salary-saving move.</p><h2><b>The Jorge Soler trade and other moves give the Braves flexibility</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jorge-Soler.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>By <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/angels-news-la-jorge-soler-trade-braves">trading Soler</a>, the Braves offloaded the two years and $26 million remaining on the outfielder’s contract. They also got rid of someone they know to be a productive hitter. Between his time with the San Francisco Giants and Braves in 2024, Soler hit 21 home runs with a 121 OPS+. He was also World Series MVP with the Braves in 2021, and by non-tendering Canning, Atlanta got essentially nothing for him.</p><p>Rosenthal pointed out that the Braves may be trying to stay under the luxury tax, which they were unable to do the last two years. The 2025 threshold will be $241 million and Atlanta currently has $217 million committed for next year. That gives the Braves some room to play with as they try to field a competitive team that will start next season at a disadvantage with Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr beginning the year on the injured list.</p><p>Atlanta can also decide to try and bring back starters Fried and Morton, though Fried especially will command a hefty price tag.</p><p>The Braves won 89 games in 2024, finishing second in the NL East. The expectations are always high in Atlanta and if the Braves want to build on last year, it will be a tough needle for Anthopoulos to thread.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Braves’ free agency priorities come into focus

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-atlanta-tribute-former-batting-champion-passing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves pay tribute to former batting champion after passing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-news-Atlanta-pays-tribute-to-former-batting-champion-after-passing.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves pay tribute to former batting champion after passing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-24T17:45:47-08:00">November 24th, 5:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-25T12:08:13-08:00">November 25th, 12:08pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Atlanta Braves franchise legend Rico Carty died on Sunday. The 85-year-old won a batting title in 1970 and was a key part of the team that moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta. Despite a 15-year career that took him to five other teams, Carty was most remembered for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-atlanta-set-to-induct-2-former-players-in-team-hall-of-fame">his time with the Braves.</a> The team <a href="https://x.com/Braves/status/1860713583216091315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1860713583216091315%7Ctwgr%5E80e27ae165bc5da357cf8f81b6cc667b5945c90d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fmlb%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F42584967%2Frico-carty-1970-nl-batting-champ-braves-dies-85" rel="noopener">took to</a> social media to honor him on Sunday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Atlanta Braves mourn the passing of Braves Hall of Famer Rico Carty: <a href="https://t.co/zdMPzCDk1u">pic.twitter.com/zdMPzCDk1u</a></p><p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1860713583216091315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“Few players in franchise history connected with Braves fans like Rico Carty. A fan-favorite almost instantly after the club arrived in Atlanta from Milwaukee in 1966, Rico left an indelible mark on the Braves organization.,” the team’s official account posted.” He owns the club’s first-ever hit in the city of Atlanta. His .366 batting average in 1970 is the franchise’s modern-era single-season record. He was a 1970 National League All-Star and a 2023 Braves Hall of Fame inductee. And the left-field seats at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium will always be known as ‘Carty’s Corner.'”</p><p>The organization was sure to mention how the person Carty will be missed as well. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed. It is with a heavy heart we send our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and numerous fans around the world.”</p><h2><b>Braves honor the legacy of Rico Carty</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Rico-Carty-with-Atlanta-Braves.jpg"><figcaption>Malcolm Emmons-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In 2023, the Braves inducted Rico Carty into the team’s Hall of Fame. While he is not represented in Cooperstown, he will always be remembered as a key part of the franchise. Moving a team to a new city is inherently risky and you need a star to make it work, While the Braves had Hank Aaron, they also had Rico Carty.</p><p>After two stellar years in Atlanta, Carty <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rico_Carty" rel="noopener">missed the</a> entire 1968 season with tuberculosis. He came back in 1969 and led the team to the NLCS. And then, he had a career year in 1970 with a .366 average and a batting title. While Aaron got the attention, Carty was the catalyst for some great seasons.</p><p>Carty suffered a knee injury in the 1971 offseason which forced him to miss the entire ’71 season. While he came back for one more year in Atlanta, that effectively ended his career with the Braves. Carty bounced around from Chicago, Texas, Oakland, Cleveland, and Toronto.</p><p>Coming off a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/padres-news-manny-machado-declaration-after-sweeping-braves">rough end to the 2024 season</a>, the Braves will play with heavy hearts in 2025. Franchise legend Rico Carty died at 85 years old.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves pay tribute to former batting champion after passing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/ranking-the-best-mike-trout-trade-destinations-as-rumors-swirl');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking the best Mike Trout trade destinations as rumors swirl');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ranking-best-Mike-Trout-trade-destinations-as-rumors-swirl.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking the best Mike Trout trade destinations as rumors swirl</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-23T23:59:58-08:00">November 23rd, 11:59pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-23T23:59:58-08:00">November 23rd, 11:59pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Undoubtedly, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/angels-mike-trout-mlb-underappreciated-superstar">Mike Trout is one of the greatest players to ever step on a baseball field.</a> Yet, despite his extraordinary individual accomplishments, the Los Angeles Angels have consistently failed to build a contending team around him. With Trout now 33 years old, battling injury concerns, and the Angels mired in mediocrity, it’s time to consider the unthinkable: a trade that would give Trout a chance to compete for a World Series. While Trout holds a <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/8553/mike-trout#:~:text=2019%2D2030%20Extension,a%20total%20salary%20of%20%2437%2C116%2C666." rel="noopener">full no-trade clause</a> and has expressed loyalty to the Angels, his circumstances—and perhaps his patience—may push him toward a fresh start. Here’s a look at the best potential trade destinations for the 11-time All-Star.</p><h2><b>Kansas City Royals: leadership for a young core</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Bobby-Witt-Jr.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>At first glance, the Kansas City Royals may seem like an odd choice for Trout. But this young team, brimming with elite talent like Bobby Witt Jr., is poised to make waves in the coming years. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/royals-news-offseason-moves-alds-loss-yankees">Royals were eliminated in the ALDS in 2024</a>, but their playoff appearance marked significant progress. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-news-reds-royals-swing-brady-singer-jonathan-india-trade">making a trade for Jonathan India</a>, adding a veteran like Trout could accelerate their trajectory toward contention.</p><p>Trout’s leadership and experience would be invaluable for a team on the rise. His presence in the clubhouse could mirror the influence Alex Gordon once had, albeit with far greater on-field production. Slotting Trout into a corner outfield spot or as a designated hitter would bolster the Royals’ lineup, giving Witt and the rest of the young roster a mentor who has seen it all. With a strong core and a desire to compete, Kansas City could offer Trout the change of scenery he needs to rejuvenate his career.</p><h2><b>Cincinnati Reds: A young team ready to win</b></h2><p>The Cincinnati Reds have a dynamic group of young stars, including Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, and Hunter Greene, but they missed the playoffs in 2024. Under the leadership of future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona, the Reds are determined to return to October baseball in 2025. They just made a trade with the Royals to acquire Brady Singer, adding Trout to the mix would provide the team with veteran leadership and a significant offensive upgrade.</p><p>While Trout’s days as a center fielder are likely over due to his injuries, he could easily transition to a corner outfield spot or the DH role in Cincinnati. His bat would add another layer of danger to a lineup already brimming with potential. For Trout, joining a team with a clear path to contention could reignite his passion for the game and offer him a chance to finally play meaningful postseason baseball.</p><h2><b>Atlanta Braves: the perfect fit for a contender</b></h2><p>The Atlanta Braves, perennial contenders with a deep roster, might be the most obvious fit for Trout. Coming off an 89-win season, the Braves boast a lineup that includes Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Austin Riley. Adding Trout to this mix would make Atlanta’s offense downright terrifying.</p><p>The Braves have the flexibility to accommodate Trout in a corner outfield spot or as a DH, given Marcell Ozuna’s heavy usage in that role. With Chris Sale coming off a Cy Young-winning season and Spencer Strider expected back in 2025, the Braves are in win-now mode. Trout’s presence could be the final piece that pushes Atlanta over the top in their pursuit of another World Series title. For Trout, the opportunity to compete with a team built to win would be a dream come true.</p><h2><b>San Francisco Giants: An effort to make it back to October</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Buster-Posey_67d266.jpg"><figcaption>Robert Edwards-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The San Francisco Giants endured a disappointing 2024 season, but with Buster Posey now leading the front office, the team is looking to retool and compete. The Giants have already extended Matt Chapman and are eyeing top-tier free agents like Blake Snell and Corbin Burnes. Adding Trout would send a clear message that they’re serious about winning.</p><p>The Giants have holes to fill in their lineup, especially after the departures of Jorge Soler and Michael Conforto. Trout could slot into the DH role or a corner outfield position, providing a consistent power bat in the middle of the order. San Francisco’s farm system and existing roster pieces—such as Mike Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade Jr.—could provide the Angels with a respectable return package. For Trout, joining a storied franchise with renewed ambition could offer a fresh start and a chance to compete in October.</p><h2><b>Why does a trade make sense?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Mike-Trout_d49bd1.jpg"><figcaption>Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Trout’s contract, which has six years and $212.7 million remaining, is a significant hurdle, but the Angels may be willing to eat a portion of the deal to facilitate a trade. After playing in just 29 games in 2024 due to a torn meniscus, Trout’s durability and ability to carry a team have come into question. However, on a contender with a strong supporting cast, Trout wouldn’t need to shoulder the load alone.</p><p>For Trout, remaining with the Angels means more years of mediocrity and missed opportunities. While his loyalty is commendable, his legacy deserves the chance to include meaningful postseason moments. By waiving his no-trade clause, Trout could finally experience the thrill of playing for a championship, something that has eluded him throughout his career.</p><p>Mike Trout’s journey with the Angels has been remarkable, but it’s clear the franchise is far from contention. Trading Trout to a contender like the Royals, Reds, Braves, or Giants would benefit both parties. For the Angels, it’s an opportunity to reset and focus on the future. For Trout, it’s a chance to chase the one thing his Hall of Fame résumé lacks: a World Series ring. At this stage in his career, it’s a move that simply makes sense.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking the best Mike Trout trade destinations as rumors swirl

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-surprising-ramon-laureano-decision');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves make surprising Ramon Laureano decision');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-news-Atlanta-makes-surprising-Ramon-Laureano-decision.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves make surprising Ramon Laureano decision</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-23T08:01:35-08:00">November 23rd, 8:01am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-23T08:02:02-08:00">November 23rd, 8:02am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Braves are making a bit of a shocking move. Atlanta is allowing Ramon Laureano to become a free agent by <a href="https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/braves-non-tender-outfielder-ramon-laureano-and-others/OCWMBOPNF5CRXEIUQCBTVCU3HI/" rel="noopener">not tendering his contract</a>, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The outfielder is one of five players for the club who is now becoming a free agent.</p><p>Laureano joins a list that includes: Huascar Ynoa, Griffin Canning, Ray Kerr and Royber Salinas. The slugger is the only player who isn’t a pitcher.</p><p>Laureano finished the 2024 season with a .259 batting average. He slashed in 33 runs, and hit 11 homers on the campaign. He spent 2024 with both the Braves and the Cleveland Guardians. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/guardians-news-cleveland-adds-athletics-ramon-laureano">Laureano also spent time with the Athletics</a> in his lengthy Major League Baseball career.</p><p>Friday was the deadline for MLB teams to tender the contracts of players who are under club control, but not yet reached the free agent market. There are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-sign-key-bullpen-arm-new-deal">a number of players throughout baseball</a> who will likely be heading to new clubs in 2025.</p><h2>Braves looking to add to roster this offseason</h2><p>Laureano is now likely not to return to Atlanta, after the decision. The Braves will likely look into the free agent market to find an outfielder that can step in and help, without coming with a hefty price tag. Laureano is <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/ramon-laureano-griffin-canning-among-5-braves-let-go-at-non-tender-deadline" rel="noopener">expected to make $6 million</a> via arbitration, per MLB.com.</p><p>The outfielder was released by the Guardians during the 2024 campaign, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ronald-acuna-jr-spencer-strider-opening-day-shut-down">came to Atlanta due to an injury</a> to Ronald Acuna Jr. Laureano struggled in Cleveland, but made the most of his time in Atlanta. The Braves were able to get some solid hitting from the veteran, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to help the team advance in the postseason.</p><p>Atlanta finished the 2024 regular season with 89 wins, but got swept by the San Diego Padres in the NL playoffs. Braves fans hope the team can make some solid additions this offseason, as Atlanta looks to build a championship roster.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves make surprising Ramon Laureano decision

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-how-atlanta-trade-shifted-chris-sale-retirement-plans');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Braves trade shifted Chris Sale’s retirement plans');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-news-How-Atlanta-trade-shifted-Chris-Sales-retirement-plans.jpg"></figure><h1>How Braves trade shifted Chris Sale’s retirement plans</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-21T22:35:25-08:00">November 21st, 10:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-21T22:35:25-08:00">November 21st, 10:35pm</time><address><a>Chris Dodson</a>Chris Dodson is a Memphis Grizzlies beat reporter for ClutchPoints who has also covered the New Orleans Pelicans. He has covered Louisiana high school and college basketball in spurts for over a decade. A basketball lifer from the bayou, his gumbo-stirring form matches his elbow jumper celebrations. Fast enough for varsity hoops, tall enough for a soccer scholarship. He has words and will travel, just not on the court.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The MLB’s winter stove can flame up or cool off on a whim. An All-Star’s change of plans can mean the opening up of an owner’s wallet or the closing of a front office’s championship window. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-does-chris-sale-believe-hes-a-hall-of-famer-after-first-cy-young">Atlanta Braves heard one possible Hall of Famer fighting back</a> against Father Time and decided to<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-chris-sale-takes-shot-at-white-sox-after-winning-cy-young-award"> go all-in on Chris Sale last offseason.</a> That investment paid off in a Cy Young award and might have kept Sale in the game for years to come.</p><p>Sale slid up to the plate on the Foul Territory podcast and <a href="https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1859699779930030177" rel="noopener">delivered a home run explanation</a> for why the newest Cy Young award winner went back on his retirement plans.</p><p>“Yeah, that was something I was talking to my wife about last night (before being named the NL Cy Young Award winner),” Sale shared. “Before I got traded last offseason we were really planning that this year (2024) was probably going to be my last year playing. I had one more year left on my contract and we actually pulled our kids out of school. We were doing home school this year just so we could travel.”</p><p>The Sale family took some drastic measures so they could be together for one final ride, but those plans were all for naught. Atlanta will have another year with Sale leading the way after all.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chris Sale was initially planning on 2024 being his last season before he got traded to Atlanta. <a href="https://t.co/G0YDZVTcGf">pic.twitter.com/G0YDZVTcGf</a></p><p>— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1859699779930030177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“It was like, okay, if we are going to do this one last year let’s fully live the baseball life,” Sale explained. “(The family) went on a lot of trips (because) we had planned this last year before the trade happened. So we just kind of stuck with the plan like doing home school now.”</p><p>Homeschooling still requires field trips, and Sale’s children got to see most of the country last season.</p><p>“We went to Philadelphia and learned about the founding fathers,” Sale said. “We went out to Alcatraz in San Francisco and Red Rocks in Colorado. It was nice having the family together and having them be able to experience this because I have not been traveling a lot the last few years with all of the injuries. It was nice having that and being able to share this experience with them…It goes quick so we wanted to be able to keep our family together and enjoy it.”</p><h2><b>Braves bet big on Chris Sale’s switcharoo</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chris-Sale.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Chris Sale has seen almost everything throughout a 14-year MLB career. He won a World Series in 2018, suffered through Tommy John surgery, then got traded to the Atlanta Braves. The NL East behemoth bet big on Sale returning to form, and that investment paid off in a Cy Young season. It only makes sense that the 35-year-old is ready to run it back in pursuit of another championship ring.</p><p>Sale not only took on the 2024 Cy Young award but also earned NL Comeback Player of the Year honors thanks to an 18-3 record and 2.38 ERA. Sale stuck out 225 batters while allowing only 47 earned runs in 29 starts with the Braves. Now that two-year extension with an $18 million club option for 2026 looks like a bargain for Atlanta’s decision-makers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Braves trade shifted Chris Sale’s retirement plans

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-does-chris-sale-believe-hes-a-hall-of-famer-after-first-cy-young');   ga('set', 'title', 'Does Braves’ Chris Sale believe he’s a Hall of Famer after first Cy Young Award?');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Does-Chris-Sale-believe-hes-a-Hall-of-Famer-after-1st-Cy-Young-Award.jpg"></figure><h1>Does Braves’ Chris Sale believe he’s a Hall of Famer after first Cy Young Award?</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-21T17:03:19-08:00">November 21st, 5:03pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-21T17:23:59-08:00">November 21st, 5:23pm</time><address><a>Dylan Fine</a>Dylan Fine focuses on the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints, in addition to working on the meme team. Dylan is a graduate of Georgetown University and has covered various topics ranging from local politics in the DMV region with DC Voter For Animals to live sporting events in the Long Island and Rochester areas with The Southampton Press and Pickin’Splinters. When he isn't working, he's usually running in preparation for the next annual Turkey Trot.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Braves pitcher Chris Sale gave an honest answer about whether he’s secured a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-chris-sale-wins-nl-cy-young-award-resurgent-season">2024 National League Cy Young Award winner</a> is one of the most decorated pitchers of this generation. An eight-time All-Star and one-time World Series champion, the 35-year-old put together the best season of his career in 2024. Sale completed the rare triple crown, leading the National League in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average.</p><p>Despite these accolades, the Lakeland, Florida native <a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1859664870494568574" rel="noopener">was not optimistic</a> about getting into Cooperstown in an interview on the digital baseball show Foul Territory.</p><p>When asked if he’s a Hall-of-Fame pitcher, Sale said, “No. Not as it sits right now.”</p><h2><b>Chris Sale still has a lot more years left in his elite arm</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-pitcher-Chris-Sale.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>This brutally honest take from the Braves’ ace showcases how hard it is to make it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Going through all of Sale’s accolades: he’s an eight-time All-Star, one-time World Series Champion, Cy Young winner, Triple Crown winner, won a Gold Glove Award, and led the league in strikeouts in three seasons. That is a resume that, in any other sport, would make someone not just a Hall-of-Famer but a first-ballot one.</p><p>The good news is that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-news-tarik-skubal-chris-sale-combine-wild-feat-not-seen-before" rel="noopener">after a historic season, Sale</a> doesn’t sound like he plans on slowing down anytime soon. Having the best season of his career at 35 indicates that the lefty doesn’t exactly need youth on his side to be an elite starter. The question going forward is if <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-chris-sale-worrying-injury-update-atlanta-clinches-playoff-spot">Sale can stay healthy, something he’s struggled with at times</a> this year and in the past.</p><p>The defending Cy Young winner is under contract with the Braves in 2025. He has a club option with the franchise after that. Atlanta is coming off a disappointing year for a franchise that has seen a ton of success under manager Brian Snitker. 2024 was the first time in seven years the Braves didn’t win the NL East. Atlanta still made the postseason but was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-brian-snitker-strong-declaration-future-sweep-padres" rel="noopener">eliminated by the San Diego Pardes</a> in the NL Wild Card Series, marking the worst finish in the playoffs for the franchise since 2017.</p><p>While last season was not ideal, the Braves still have plenty to look forward to in 2025. For most of the year, Atlanta was without its <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ronald-acuna-jr-reaction-unlucky-torn-acl">best offensive player, Ronald Acuna Jr</a>. The 26-year-old is a perennial NL MVP candidate and vital to the organization’s future. The franchise is also aggressively hunting stars in free agency. These targets include <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-walker-buehler-3-best-free-agency-destinations">All-MLB pitchers Walker Buehler</a> and Jordan Montgomery.</p><p>Despite an aggressive approach during the offseason, the Braves should be an elite team with just health on their side. First-baseman Max Olson went from having the best year of his career to struggling in 2024 in Atlanta. The 30-year-old is still in his prime and should have a bounce-back year, especially with Acuna Jr returning. Overall, the franchise is in good shape with Sale as its ace. Should the defending Cy Young winner maintain his form next year, Sale will secure his spot in Cooperstown.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Does Braves’ Chris Sale believe he’s a Hall of Famer after first Cy Young Award?

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-chris-sale-takes-shot-at-white-sox-after-winning-cy-young-award');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves’ Chris Sale takes shot at White Sox after winning Cy Young award');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-news-Chris-Sale-takes-shot-at-White-Sox-after-winning-Cy-Young-award.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves’ Chris Sale takes shot at White Sox after winning Cy Young award</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-21T12:46:57-08:00">November 21st, 12:46pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-21T19:06:42-08:00">November 21st, 7:06pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Atlanta Braves starting pitcher <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-chris-sale-wins-nl-cy-young-award-resurgent-season">Chris Sale won his first career Cy Young</a> award on Wednesday. Despite his excellent career and six top-five finishes, he had never won the award. The morning after the announcement, <a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1859664240870818089" rel="noopener">he went on</a> Foul Territory with his former teammate AJ Pierzynski. He took a shot at the White Sox, their former team, during the interview.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chris Sale bringing the heat on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FTLive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FTLive</a> 🌶️</p><p>"Obviously had the best year of my career, win the CY Young, and one of my losses was to the worst team in the history of the game" <a href="https://t.co/WuaU0Z2T6s">pic.twitter.com/WuaU0Z2T6s</a></p><p>— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1859664240870818089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“Obviously had the best year of my career, winning the CY Young, and one of my losses was to the worst team in the history of the game,” Sale quipped. Pierzynski and former White Sox third baseman Todd Fraizer got a pretty good kick out of that. They were not a part of the worst team in history, but their stories insinuated that they understood how the organization got to this point.</p><p>Pierzynski brought up the infamous Chris Sale story about him cutting up the throwback jersey before a start. It got a chuckle out of Sale, who now has a World Series and Cy Young since the incident. What once defined him is now a funny footnote on a Hall-of-Fame career.</p><p>In that game against the White Sox, Sale dominated and still got the loss. He threw seven innings, allowed four hits, and gave up one run. The Braves lost 1-0.</p><h2><b>Chris Sale continues his excellent career with the Braves</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chris-Sale-with-Atlanta-Braves.jpg"><figcaption>Katie Stratman-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After he missed the entire 2020 season with injury, Chris Sale was not the same pitcher for the Red Sox. Over the next three seasons, he started 31 games with a 3.93 ERA. While that is solid, it is not the greatness fans were used to from Sale. He was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-braves-red-sox-chris-sale-trade">traded to the Braves</a> in an afterthought move and given a curious extension. The 35-year-old has now extended his career with this great season.</p><p>The Braves needed this season out of Sale in 2024. Their ace Spencer Strider pitched in only two games before suffering an elbow injury that ended his season. Without him, their rotation was much thinner behind Max Fried. By the end of the season, Sale was the top guy for Atlanta and led them to the playoffs.</p><p>While the Padres were a strong team unlikely to lose in the Wild Card series, they would have been given a better challenge with Chris Sale. He missed out on the final series against the Mets and the Padres series due to back spasms. He is now expected to shine for the Braves, especially if Fried leaves in free agency and Strider is not ready for the season opener.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves’ Chris Sale takes shot at White Sox after winning Cy Young award

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-news-chris-sale-wins-nl-cy-young-award-resurgent-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves’ Chris Sale wins NL Cy Young Award after resurgent season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Chris-Sale-wins-NL-Cy-Young-Award-after-resurgent-season.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves’ Chris Sale wins NL Cy Young Award after resurgent season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-20T15:48:41-08:00">November 20th, 3:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-20T16:13:40-08:00">November 20th, 4:13pm</time><address><a>Christopher Smith</a>Christopher Smith is an associate editor covering a variety of sports with a beat focus on the Chicago Sky for ClutchPoints. The Aurora, Illinois native earned a degree in philosophy from Creighton University, where he also competed as a Division 1 Cross Country runner.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-brian-snitker-strong-declaration-future-sweep-padres">Atlanta Braves did not have the postseason success they hoped for</a> in 2024. Yet, the club still received some of the best MLB production from one of their veteran players. Left-handed pitcher Chris Sale had a resurgent 2024 campaign, and as a result, <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1859377713242394659" rel="noopener">he has won</a> the National League Cy Young Award, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.</p><p>Sale received 26 of 30 first-place votes for the prestigious award after finishing second, third, fourth, fifth (twice), and sixth (twice) for the in past voting, Passan added. Philadelphia Phillies star Zach Wheeler finished second in 2024 voting, and Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes finished third.</p><p>In 29 regular season starts, Chris Sale achieved an 18-3 record and held a 2.38 ERA, both of which ranked first in the league, per ESPN. In addition, he threw 225 strikeouts (ranked second), and achieved 1.01 WHIP (sixth).</p><p>Sale’s 2024 run was highly impressive compared to his 2023 season with the Boston Braves. In 20 starts, the left-hander went 6-5 with a 4.30 ERA, 125 strikeouts, and 1.13 WHIP. Joining the Braves had to be an adjustment for Sale, considering he spent his previous six seasons with Boston. However, he answered the call and has gained an honorable recognition for his debut Atlanta season.</p><p>Sale developed a back injury down the stretch of the Braves’ season that caused concern among fans. However, manager <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-brian-snitker-chris-sale-update">Brian Snitker revealed a positive update</a> on the star’s status in early October.</p><p>Snitker said Sale “felt a lot better” on the morning of Atlanta’s first Wild Card matchup against the San Diego Padres. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-gm-chris-sale-nlds-roster">GM Alex Anthopoulos further revealed Sale would have been ready</a> for the National League Division Series, had the Braves advanced. Unfortunately, the Padres swept Atlanta in the Wild Card, ending their postseason run early.</p><p>Chris Sale’s NL Cy Young Award is great news for both him and the Braves alike. As long as he stays healthy, Sale should do more great things for the club in 2025.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves’ Chris Sale wins NL Cy Young Award after resurgent season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/ranking-jordan-montgomery-trade-destinations-rumors-swirl');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking best Jordan Montgomery trade destinations as rumors swirl');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ranking-best-Jordan-Montgomery-trade-destinations-as-rumors-swirl.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking best Jordan Montgomery trade destinations as rumors swirl</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-19T15:07:14-08:00">November 19th, 3:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-19T15:07:14-08:00">November 19th, 3:07pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Arizona Diamondbacks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Arizona Diamondbacks and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/diamondbacks-news-arizona-owner-destroys-jordan-montgomery-after-missing-playoffs">Jordan Montgomery had a rocky relationship in 2024</a>. After he did not get a long-term deal in free agency, the 2023 World Champion flipped sides and went from the Rangers to Arizona. He was brutal in 2024, posting a 6.23 ERA and serving a stint in the bullpen. It looks like Jordan Montgomery is on the trade block to end the relationship. Could the Reds, Tigers, Guardians, or Braves make the move?</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/diamondbacks-news-jordan-montgomery-22-million-move-mlb-offseason">Montgomery picked up his player option</a> for 2025, worth $22.5 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so a team could ask Arizona to eat some money to make the deal worth it. Plus, there are plenty of great starting pitchers available in free agency. That means the smaller-market teams should be the ones in on Montgomery. And they should make the deal soon before the big fish come swirling if they are left without an ace in free agency.</p><p>Which team needs Montgomery the most? And where could he sign long-term to finish off his career?</p><h2><b>Top option: The Tigers create a solid one-two punch</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jordan-Montgomery-with-Arizona-Diamondbacks.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Detroit Tigers had an incredible 2024 season, largely because of their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/tigers-news-tarik-skubal-dominance-guardians-justin-verlander-territory">likely Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal</a>. The lefty was unbelievable, posting an AL-best 2.39 ERA in the regular season. He then shut down the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card Series and had one great outing in the ALDS. While they are in the mix for Jack Flaherty, Montgomery would be a cheaper option.</p><p>The biggest pitcher trade piece on the board is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/white-sox-news-garrett-crochet-trade-destinations">Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox</a>. While the Southsiders are not going to be competitive anytime soon, they likely won’t trade him within their division. That points all of the signs to Montgomery, who could come in and create a great lefty-lefty duo in the Motor City.</p><p>After their great year, the front office has to reward their team with a big acquisition. Their lack of starting pitching depth hurt them tremendously in the postseason, so a pitcher makes the most sense. If they can afford the one year of Montgomery, they should make the move.</p><h2><b>#2: Jordan Montgomery becomes a Cincinnati Red</b></h2><p>In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles have traded pieces from their rebuild for MLB-ready players to enter their competitive window. While the Reds have not had as much success as the Orioles, they have to press the ‘go’ button eventually. Elly De La Cruz is a star, they have plenty of players coming back from injury, and are in a winnable division. With a need for starting pitchers, they should make this move.</p><p>The Reds will likely need the Diamondbacks to eat some money to make the deal work. That is okay because they have a deep farm system and making the deal won’t crush their pipeline. With a locked-in infield, they could trade a prospect like Sammy Stafura and it would not hurt them. When Nick Martinez accepted the $21.5 million Qualifying Offer, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/cincinnati-reds/payroll/_/year/2025" rel="noopener">he became the</a> highest-paid player on the team. Montgomery at full freight would eclipse him.</p><p>Hunter Greene, Martinez, and Montgomery would create a solid rotation to enter the season with. The Brewers are incredible at developing pitchers and the Pirates have a great rotation as well. The Reds need great pitching to make the playoffs next season and Montgomery can help.</p><h2><b>#3: Guardians make a big pitching trade</b></h2><p>Shane Bieber was the forgotten man during the Guardians’ 2024 campaign. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/guardians-news-latest-shane-bieber-injury-move">suffering a UCL injury</a> early in the season, Bieber missed the entire division-winning campaign. He is now a free agent and is looking to cash in, as it might be his only opportunity. That search likely does not include the Guardians, who are not known for spending big. To replace him, they should target Jordan Montgomery.</p><p>The Guardians are another team that would have to give up a bigger-name prospect to get the Diamondbacks to eat money. Montgomery’s $22.5 million cap hit would be the highest on the team, so they will likely look for some relief. They had four starters post a negative bWAR last season, which needs to be improved. Montgomery would be a great option.</p><h2><b>#4: Braves pivot to Jordan Montgomery</b></h2><p>The Braves have a massive <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-max-fried-5-best-free-agency-destinations">pitching free agent in Max Fried</a> to court this offseason. If they can keep their star around, they’ll be out on Montgomery. With Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, and Fried, they’ll have one of the best rotations in the National League. If Fried leaves, they will likely look for a new pitcher. While Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell could be options, they might turn to Montgomery.</p><p>A trade for a pitcher who appears at the end of his career has worked for the Braves multiple times. Both Charlie Morton and Sale have been exceptional for Atlanta and Montgomery could do the same.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking best Jordan Montgomery trade destinations as rumors swirl

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/ranking-walker-buehler-3-best-free-agency-destinations');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ranking Walker Buehler’s 3 best free agency destinations');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ranking-Walker-Buehlers-X-best-free-agency-destinations.jpg"></figure><h1>Ranking Walker Buehler’s 3 best free agency destinations</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-17T17:22:48-08:00">November 17th, 5:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-17T17:22:48-08:00">November 17th, 5:22pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-walker-buehler-drops-mic-haters-message-after-mlb-world-series-win-yankees">won the World Series</a> in part because of Walker Buehler and his October performance. After a brutal season coming off Tommy John surgery, Buehler struggled in the NLDS against the Padres. By the end of the postseason, he was closing out the clinching game to win the title. As Walker Buehler enters free agency, the Braves and Cubs are vying for his services. What is the best landing spot for the veteran?</p><p>The Athletic projects that Buehler <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5863532/2024/10/31/mlb-free-agents-2024-contract-team-predictions-soto/" rel="noopener">will get a</a> one-year deal worth $10 million in free agency. Adding on incentives, it could be a very profitable year for the starter. It also means that every team in the league can afford his contract. With small-market teams like the Reds, Guardians, and Twins in search of a starter, Buehler could fit. But as his career winds down, it appears that he is prioritizing championship pedigree. The big-market teams fit that bill and therefore are most likely to sign Buehler.</p><p>With free agency about to start rolling, Walker Buehler is a name to watch. Here are the three teams in the best position to sign him this offseason.</p><h2><b>Top option: Walker Buehler joins the Atlanta Braves</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Walker-Buehler-with-Los-Angeles-Dodgers-1.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Reports have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-braves-show-interest-in-dodgers-walker-buehler">circulated connecting Buehler to the Atlanta Braves</a>. With Max Fried expected to test the free agency waters, they could use another arm to stabilize the rotation. Plus, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ronald-acuna-jr-spencer-strider-opening-day-shut-down">Spencer Strider is not expected to return for opening day</a> after missing the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Braves are expected to pay up for a pitcher and Buehler would be the perfect fit.</p><p>The Braves struggled through a tremendous amount of injuries in 2024. With Strider out, they leaned on Chris Sale to stabilize the rotation. The former Red Sox star was traded to Atlanta and put up a Cy Young-caliber season. With Sale no longer a big secret, they could be looking for a new reclamation project in Buehler.</p><p>The $10 million commitment is not going to be a problem for the Braves. They are likely bringing Charlie Morton back on a similar deal, which has been the case for a few years now. While Buehler is much younger than Morton, he can be a similar pitcher who quietly shoves and surprises people in the postseason.</p><h2><b>#2: Stay in Los Angeles</b></h2><p>Buehler was drafted by the Dodgers out of Vanderbilt, had a few great seasons, and won two World Series. He could want to stay in Hollywood and finish out his career with the team. While the relationship between player and team is strong, he may be on the way out simply because there is not enough space.</p><p>The Dodgers already have Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May, and Tyler Glasnow under contract for next year. Clayton Kershaw is a free agent, but it feels unlikely he will ever pitch for another team. With those five guys, their starting rotation is pretty much set. Injuries are a factor but Buehler might be left standing when the music stops.</p><p>If Buehler does come back to Los Angeles, he will continue to cement himself as a franchise legend. If he does not, the last pitch he threw in blue clinched the World Series. Either way, Buehler will be remembered fondly in Los Angeles.</p><h2><b>#3: Walker channels Ferris in Chicago</b></h2><p>Conveniently, Walker Buehler hits free agency the same year the Cubs are in the market for a pitcher. While Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a 40-year-old movie, it <a href="https://x.com/buehlersdayoff" rel="noopener">is a reference</a> Walker himself uses in his social media handle. The iconic scene of Ferris and his crew watching baseball at Wrigley would be played on a loop if Buehler joined the Cubbies.</p><p>Now to the actual baseball, Craig Counsell’s first season was a disaster in Chicago. The Cubs finished well out of the NL Central race and never contended for the Wild Card. Despite their high payroll, they need to add more to compete. Pitching is one department where they could improve behind ace Shota Imanaga.</p><h2><b>Final Walker Buehler decision</b></h2><p>Walker Buehler will sign a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves worth $10 million. There will not be a bidding war for the starter, as the Cubs can change gears instead of chasing Buehler. He is not in a great position leverage-wise, as there are so many better pitchers available. But the Braves will pay the requisite amount to get him.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ranking Walker Buehler’s 3 best free agency destinations

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/braves-free-agent-charlie-morton-explains-why-he-plans-to-pitch-in-2025');   ga('set', 'title', 'Braves free agent Charlie Morton explains why he plans to pitch in 2025');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-news-Charlie-Morton-explains-why-he-plans-to-pitch-in-2025.jpg"></figure><h1>Braves free agent Charlie Morton explains why he plans to pitch in 2025</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-16T10:44:20-08:00">November 16th, 10:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-16T10:44:20-08:00">November 16th, 10:44am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Free-agent pitcher Charlie Morton, who has played for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-braves-linked-to-two-time-all-star-pitcher">the Atlanta Braves</a> for the last four seasons, will try to pitch in MLB next season despite just having turned 41 years old.</p><p>92.9 The Game’s Grant McAuley posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the veteran pitcher admitted <a href="https://twitter.com/grantmcauley/status/1857563851333542275" rel="noopener">he may have</a> retired sooner had he had more success early in his career.</p><p>“I do regret not figuring it out sooner because I’m not sure that I would still be playing if I had and it’s taken me away from my family,” Morton said, via McAuley. “I think that’s probably my biggest regret is the circumstance that it’s caused with me and the opportunity in baseball. Because now I have to say, ‘Man, you’ve worked to get to the point where you feel like you’re actually contributing in the game and now what? You’re just going to walk away? Now you’re not actually going to go through with it and grind it out until the game tells you it’s over?”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">From my upcoming article on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Braves?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Braves</a> Charlie Morton pitching in 2025. We had this chat months ago, but the gears were turning even then with respect to balancing career and family, including a candid revelation that he may have already retired if he'd been successful sooner. <a href="https://t.co/1gDbCRMJuH">pic.twitter.com/1gDbCRMJuH</a></p><p>— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) <a href="https://twitter.com/grantmcauley/status/1857563851333542275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Charlie Morton, 41, still planning to pitch after stint with Braves</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Braves-Charlie-Morton.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Morton, a third-round draft pick in 2002, made his MLB debut back in 2008 with the Braves but was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates the following year. He remained with the Pirates until 2015 when he made his way to the Philadelphia Phillies via another trade.</p><p>After the 2016 season, he signed with the Houston Astros, with whom he would earn his first All-Star selection and World Series title. In his two seasons with Houston, Morton went 29-10 and recorded a 3.36 ERA and 1.176 WHIP.</p><p>Morton parlayed his Astros success into a two-year, $30 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, with whom he earned another All-Star selection, as well as All-MLB Second Team honors. In 2019, he also finished third in AL Cy Young Award voting after a season in which he finished 16-6 with a career-low 3.05 ERA, 2.81 FIP, and MLB-best 0.7 HR/9.</p><p>Nearly two decades after being drafted by the Braves, Morton returned to Atlanta on a one-year deal before the 2021 season, which he and the Braves finished with a World Series championship.</p><p>Unfortunately, Morton was injured in the World Series — the then 37-year-old pitcher broke his leg in Game 1 of the series after being struck by a hit ball. Despite that, Morton stayed in the game for the time being and threw a number of pitches before exiting the game.</p><p>Despite being the third-oldest active player in MLB, Morton proved somewhat effective albeit inconsistent last season; he recorded a 4.19 ERA and the third-worst FIP of his career but provided much-needed innings to the injury-riddled Braves.</p><p>While some teams may be understandably hesitant about Morton’s dip in production this past season and his age, there will almost certainly be at least a few interested parties in the pitcher this offseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Braves free agent Charlie Morton explains why he plans to pitch in 2025

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-braves-show-interest-in-dodgers-walker-buehler');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Braves show interest in Dodgers’ Walker Buehler');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/MLB-rumors-Braves-show-interest-in-Dodgers-Walker-Buehler.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Braves show interest in Dodgers’ Walker Buehler</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-15T11:58:13-08:00">November 15th, 11:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-15T12:56:25-08:00">November 15th, 12:56pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Braves</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Braves are preparing for the possibility of losing superb starting pitcher <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ranking-max-fried-5-best-free-agency-destinations">Max Fried in free agency</a>, but they might already have a backup plan in mind. Following a turbulent 2024 season, the organization <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/j-p-morosi-with-latest-free-agency-stories" rel="noopener">is expressing interest</a> in another World Series champion. The Braves have their sights on Walker Buehler, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.</p><p>There is no denying that the two-time All-Star comes with red flags, but general manager Alex Anthopoulos has seen some of his gambles pay off in big ways. Chris Sale made 31 starts over a four-year span with the Boston Red Sox and was considered to be a lost cause by many fans. He won his first Cy Young, joined Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in winning the pitching Triple Crown and earned a Gold Glove award in his first year with the Braves.</p><p>Perhaps Buehler can also rediscover his best form in the ATL. The 30-year-old righty might actually be less of a risk than Sale was last offseason, given the important role he played in helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win a championship.</p><h2><b>Can Walker Buehler give the Braves a boost after his recent heroics?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Walker-Buehler-pitches-in-World-Series-on-one-day-of-rest.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Buehler, who was also dominant in the 2020 Fall Classic, stifled the New York Yankees this past October. He threw six scoreless innings and struck out seven batters in two appearances for LA, earning the distinguished honor of recording the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-walker-buehler-drops-mic-haters-message-after-mlb-world-series-win-yankees">title-clinching save</a> in Game 5 of the World Series (did so on one-day rest). His late surge is a strong contrast to the abysmal 5.38 ERA he recorded in 16 regular season starts, however.</p><p>The Braves must be appropriately weary of the perils that come with the 6-foot-2 native of Lexington, Kentucky. He has underwent two Tommy John surgeries and is struggling to generate sufficient velocity on his four-seam fastball. A strong grasp of the strike zone and healthy mix of pitches can combat that problem, though, as was the case in the latter stages of the postseason.</p><p>Atlanta is understandably intrigued by what Buehler can add to its rotation. Fried is in the open market, Charlie Morton could retire and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ronald-acuna-jr-spencer-strider-opening-day-shut-down">Spencer Strider remains on the shelf</a> after suffering his own elbow injury. Despite the Braves’ need for starting pitching, they have to be smart with their negotiation tactics.</p><p>Their interest level in Walker Buehler is ostensibly in the preliminary stages, but if they get a meeting with this high-stakes hero, ironing out a manageable contract will be essential.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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