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<!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-ronald-acuna-jr-spencer-strider-braves-offseason');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: The Ronald Acuna Jr., Spencer Strider reason Braves are slow-playing 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/2025/01/The-Ronald-Acuna-Jr.-Spencer-Strider-reason-Braves-are-slow-playing-offseason.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: The Ronald Acuna Jr., Spencer Strider reason Braves are slow-playing offseason</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-07T09:53:29-08:00">January 7th, 9:53am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-07T09:53:29-08:00">January 7th, 9:53am</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 yet to make any truly attention-catching additions this offseason. They have lost players such as Max Fried and Jorge Soler via free agency and trades, but Atlanta has yet to add a superstar. Perhaps Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider’s expected injury returns in 2025 are impacting the Braves’ offseason.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ronald-acuna-jr-spencer-strider-opening-day-shut-down">Acuna and Strider will likely not return before Opening Day</a>. However, both players are only expected to miss one to two months of the regular season. This means that any player the Braves sign to replace Acuna or Strider may have a diminished role once they return, something Ken Rosenthal <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6043451/2025/01/07/braves-offseason-angels-free-agents/" rel="noopener">addressed in reference</a> to Acuna’s situation, via The Athletic.</p><p>“A return by Acuña say, at the end of April, would give him six additional weeks to recover,” Rosenthal wrote in a recent article. “The Braves clearly would need another outfielder in the interim, but that player likely would be reduced to a backup role once Acuña was activated. Few players at this stage of the offseason are jumping at such roles.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ronald-acuna-jr-spencer-strider-injury-updates-2025">Acuna and Strider are looking to bounce back from injuries</a>. Acuna is one of the best players in the sport when healthy, but a torn ACL brought his 2024 season to an early end. The same can be said for Strider, who suffered an early season elbow injury.</p><p>The Braves will rely on Strider in the starting rotation once he returns after losing Max Fried in free agency. Of course, Acuna will instantly become the leader in the lineup once he returns as well. In a sense, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Spencer Strider’s returns will feel like two superstar acquisitions.</p><p>Will the Braves make any notable additions as the offseason continues? Anything is possible, but Atlanta may be content to enter the 2025 campaign with their roster as currently constructed.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: The Ronald Acuna Jr., Spencer Strider reason Braves are slow-playing 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-expected-additions-alarming-start-offseason');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Braves still expected to make additions after ‘alarming’ start to 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/2025/01/Braves-still-expected-to-make-additions-after-alarming-start-to-offseason.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Braves still expected to make additions after ‘alarming’ start to offseason</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-06T13:31:39-08:00">January 6th, 1:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-06T13:31:39-08:00">January 6th, 1:31pm</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>The Atlanta Braves have had a quiet offseason — alarmingly quiet, if you ask ESPN’s Jeff Passan.</p><p>While <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/4-starting-pitchers-braves-sign-losing-max-fried-charlie-morton">Max Fried and Charlie Morton both have new homes</a>, Atlanta hasn’t done anything to replace them quite yet. In fact, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-braves-free-agency-priorities-focus">Braves haven’t signed</a> a single Major Leaguer in free agency this offseason.</p><p>Passan <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/43261112/teams-winning-mlb-offseason-need-move-dodgers-yankees-mets-braves" rel="noopener">does not expect</a> that to last with Atlanta poised to get Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider back from injury for 2025.</p><p>“The Braves are about $20 million under the first luxury tax threshold, and [general manager Alex] Anthopoulos has suggested they could exceed it for the third consecutive season, so there is room to add,” Passan wrote on Monday. “Whether Atlanta spreads its gains out over a number of players to exploit falling prices or prefers to go after a single impact-type player, the Braves are poised to add [Acuña and Strider] to a team good enough to make the postseason without them.”</p><p>Passan added that the Braves’ offseason so far runs contrary to what we’ve come to expect from Anthopolous, whom he called “the king of the early-winter strike.” Instead, it’s been an offseason of free agent near-misses and watching two pitchers who combined to start 59 games in 2024 leave town.</p><h2><b>The Jorge Soler salary dump gave the Braves spending flexibility</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jorge-Soler.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Braves’ one major move so far this offseason was to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jorge-soler-trade-grades-braves-angels-deal">trade Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels</a> for relief pitcher Griffin Canning in a move that will save the team around $14 million. Even with Anthopolous willing to go over the luxury tax threshold, that theoretically gave the Braves some more money to work with.</p><p>The obvious place to add would be to the starting rotation as the team needs to make up for the losses of Fried and Morton — even with Strider due to return. Unfortunately for Atlanta, most of the big names are off the board, though Jack Flaherty remains unsigned. They could also make a run at <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-roki-sasaki-wont-sign-immediately-international-signing-period">Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki</a>, but the Braves are not thought to be one of the top contenders for his services.</p><p>Wherever the Braves go from here, Passan expects the team to make a splash.</p><p>“When the entirety of a winter consists of dumping Jorge Soler’s contract on the Angels and a number of pursuits that never came to fruition, it’s a recipe for fan exasperation,” he said. “Not anger. Not disappointment. Just the desire for something better. Sometime before the Braves report to North Port, it’ll happen.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Braves still expected to make additions after ‘alarming’ start to 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', '/4-starting-pitchers-braves-sign-losing-max-fried-charlie-morton');   ga('set', 'title', '4 starting pitchers Braves must sign after losing Max Fried, Charlie Morton');   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/2025/01/X-starting-pitchers-Braves-must-sign-after-losing-Max-Fried-Charlie-Morton.jpg"></figure><h1>4 starting pitchers Braves must sign after losing Max Fried, Charlie Morton</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-06T05:21:07-08:00">January 6th, 5:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-06T05:21:07-08:00">January 6th, 5:21am</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 had a year full of injuries in 2024. From losing ace Spencer Strider in April to Ronald Acuña Jr in May to Chris Sale for the playoffs, it was a disappointing campaign. And then free agency hit and they lost two key pitchers. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/yankees-news-max-fried-ny-agree-8-year-218-million-deal-free-agency">Max Fried is on the New York Yankees</a> and Charlie Morton signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Who should the Braves sign in free agency to replace them?</p><p>Even with those two solid starters gone, the Braves have solid pitchers in their rotation. Chris Sale will be 36 years old next season but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-chris-sale-wins-nl-cy-young-award-resurgent-season">just won his first Cy Young Award</a>. If his career resurgence continues next season, they should be in great shape. Strider won’t make it back for opening day but should be back shortly after that. With those two at the top, Atlanta only needs depth additions to their rotation.</p><p>So who should the Braves sign in free agency to fill out their rotation? Let’s find out here.</p><h2><b>Jack Flaherty heads east to join the Braves</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jack-Flaherty-with-LA-Dodgers.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jack Flaherty is a free agent for the second consecutive season and still does not have a contract. After a brutal 2023 second half with the Orioles, he signed a one-year deal with the Tigers. He was spectacular with Detroit until he was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-jack-flahertys-special-reaction-la-tigers-trade">traded at the deadline to his hometown Los Angeles Dodgers</a>. They signed Blake Snell, so he won’t be going back there so the Braves should pounce on the opportunity.</p><p>The last two seasons have been up-and-down for Flaherty but it ended with a few solid playoff starts for the Dodgers. That should be enough for the Braves to trust him as their third starter at a reasonable price. Stability would help his game grow and the coaching in Atlanta has turned good pitchers into great ones many times.</p><p>The Athletic projects Flaherty’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5893223/2024/11/04/mlb-top-free-agents-juan-soto-contract/" rel="noopener">contract at four years</a>, $92 million. That was before anyone was signed this offseason, so that could be higher than the reality when the deal is finished. If the Braves sign him for a deal in that area, do not be surprised at all.</p><h2><b>Braves make a big splash with Roki Sasaki</b></h2><p>There is still one big-name pitching free agent available and he has never thrown an inning in Major League Baseball.<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-roki-sasaki-makes-clear-request-to-interested-teams-amid-offseason-sweepstakes"> Roki Sasaki is the latest star</a> to come over from Japan and can sign with any MLB team. He is not eligible for a massive contract like Yoshinobu Yamamoto got because of his service time. That leaves the Braves open as an option.</p><p>Sasaki may want to go to a bigger market or a place where he can be the ace but if he wants to assimilate to the majors slowly, the Braves are the best option. He would be their third starter and could get some of the best coaching in the league. While there will be plenty of suitors for Sasaki, the Braves would be a great fit.</p><h2><b>Chris Flexen escapes the White Sox </b></h2><p>The rest of the Braves’ options would be depth adds, who may not even fit in as the number three starter. The first is Chris Flexen, who made 30 starts for the 2024 Chicago White Sox. He went 3-15 for the worst team in baseball history and is not a candidate for a long-term contract. He should sign a one-year deal with the Braves to revive his value this offseason.</p><p>Adding Flexen creates competition with Reynaldo Lopez for the third rung on the ladder. Lopez is the player the Braves should use as an example to convince Flexen to sign. He had a 6.0 bWAR in seven seasons with the White Sox and had a 5.1 bWAR just last season with Atlanta. His career changed by signing with Atlanta and Flexen’s could too.</p><h2><b>A career resurgence for Domingo German</b></h2><p>Domingo German has run into personal walls that have impacted his professional career. A domestic violence suspension and a stint in rehab ended his time with the Yankees. He popped up with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year for seven appearances and was not strong. But with plenty of time between him and injuries that also hampered him should lead to better performances.</p><p>The Braves would give him a one-year deal worth very little for him to prove he can be a major league pitcher. German has thrown a perfect game and had plenty of bright moments for the Yankees. But his dark moments outweigh the good ones in fans’ brains. This would be a risky hire but one that could pay off for the Braves this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

4 starting pitchers Braves must sign after losing Max Fried, Charlie Morton

<!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-world-series-champion-makes-retirement-decision');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ex-Braves, Giants infielder makes retirement 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/2024/12/Braves-news-Ex-Atlanta-Giants-infielder-makes-retirement-decision.jpg"></figure><h1>Ex-Braves, Giants infielder makes retirement decision</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-24T18:36:00-08:00">December 24th, 6:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-24T18:37:20-08:00">December 24th, 6:37pm</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>There are many journeymen who rise to the occasion and help their team win a championship. These unlikely heroes can most commonly be found during October baseball, where unpredictability reigns supreme. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/the-braves-overcame-every-obstacle-en-route-to-2021-world-series-title">The 2021 Atlanta Braves</a> boasted a deep roster with the perfect blend of established difference-makers (Freddie Freeman, Charlie Morton and Jorge Soler) and rising stars (Austin Riley, Max Fried and Ozzie Albies), but they would not have won the World Series without the “little guys.”</p><p>Utility man Ehire Adrianza was among those players who flew under the radar before striking at the right moment. His lone hit of the playoffs ultimately allowed the Braves to reach their first Fall Classic in more than 20 years. He hit a two-out, fourth-inning double off then-Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, setting up Eddie Rosario to belt the go-ahead three-run home run.</p><p>Atlanta clinched the pennant on the strength of that swing, which would not have been possible without the clutch pinch-hit at-bat that preceded it. Adrianza’s career was defined by simply doing what was asked of him, and on this day, he was entrusted with extending the franchise’s momentous season. While it is unfortunately all too easy to skip past Travis d’Arnaud’s walk and Adrianza’s double in favor of Rosario’s thrilling blast, this is the time when those facilitating plays are properly acknowledged.</p><p>Ehire Adrianza announced he is retiring after 12 MLB seasons. In addition to<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/braves-news-ehire-adrianza-dfa-roster-move"> logging two stints with the Braves</a>, the 35-year-old Venezuelan played for the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels. <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/ehire-adrianza-announces-retirement.html?utm_source=twitter" rel="noopener">He is feeling extremely grateful</a> for the memories he was able to make in the big leagues.</p><h2><b>Braves fans surely appreciate Adrianza’s contributions</b></h2><p>“This journey has been incredibly challenging, filled with ups and downs, but every step along the way has been a blessing that I cherish immensely,” Adrianza said in an Instagram post, via Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors. “Since my childhood, I dreamed of the possibility of winning a World Series, a goal that once seemed so distant and almost unattainable. However, thanks to my effort, dedication, and the unwavering support of each one of you, that dream has become a reality.”</p><p>“I still find it hard to believe that I have had the honor of playing more than a decade in the Major Leagues,” he continued. “I never imagined I would achieve so much, and it’s astonishing to reflect on this experience.” Retirement can be a sad day for many athletes, but this man is truly humbled by the life that baseball has afforded him to this point. If other players can adopt the same outlook by the time they hang up their cleats, they will have enjoyed a deeply satisfying career.</p><p>Adrianza posted a .237 batting average, 22 homers and 151 RBIs in 624 regular season games and was a reliable fielder. His numbers have already been forgotten, but his World Series ring will forever serve as an emblem of the role he played in Atlanta Braves history. Cheers to Ehire Adrianza.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ex-Braves, Giants infielder makes retirement 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-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>

Hurston
Waldrep

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2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
21	16.71	3	2.43	0

2024 SEASON STATS
IP	ERA	K	WHIP	WINS
21	16.71	3	2.43	0

Hurston Waldrep

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Hurston
Waldrep