The Atlanta Braves were among the top contenders pursuing free-agent pitcher Justin Verlander as they sought to replace the production of Charlie Morton and Max Fried. However, Verlander ultimately signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants, leaving the Braves to explore other options.
According to FanSided’s Christopher Kline, the Braves might shift their focus to another future Hall of Famer: Max Scherzer. Kline suggested that Scherzer, Verlander’s former teammate, could be a strong fit for Atlanta.
“On paper, the Braves were an ideal destination for Justin Verlander—a championship-caliber team with pitching depth needs but enough star power to protect him in case of injuries,” Kline wrote. “While Verlander may not be the workhorse he once was, Atlanta could have leveraged his two decades of MLB experience.”
Kline sees a similar opportunity with Scherzer, a 40-year-old free agent, three-time Cy Young winner, and two-time World Series champion. “Scherzer would bring decades of winning experience and a recent history of success to Atlanta,” he added.
Despite some criticism, Scherzer’s recent performance suggests he remains a reliable pitcher. Over the past three seasons, he has pitched 341 1/3 innings with a 3.16 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. While he may not be a complete solution for the Braves’ rotation, signing him to a one-year deal could be a smart move for a team aiming to maintain its contender status.
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