The Braves generally don’t spend heavily in free agency, and I don’t anticipate that changing this offseason. However, with payroll expected to increase, Alex Anthopoulos will have some flexibility, especially if he trades either Jorge Soler or Marcell Ozuna to address their DH situation.
I seriously doubt the Braves will pursue Willy Adames for a $150+ million contract. Similarly, I don’t see them making a significant push for a starting pitcher, whether it’s for the rotation or bullpen. That said, outfield is a major need, and with plenty of options available, the Braves can focus on improving that area.
Teoscar Hernandez, who had a somewhat disappointing season with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, hitting 26 homers with a .740 OPS—his lowest career mark—took a gamble on himself by signing a one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Dodgers. That move has paid off significantly this offseason. Hernandez has excelled in the middle of the Los Angeles lineup, contributing to their 3-1 lead in the NLCS and putting them one win away from the World Series. He achieved a career-high 33 home runs, 32 doubles, over .500 slugging, and an .840 OPS this season. Over the past five years, he has consistently hit at least 25 home runs each full season. He’s likely to secure a multi-year contract this offseason, and Spotrac estimates his market value at three years and $71 million, which seems reasonable for a player of his caliber.
For a 32-year-old outfielder in his prime, that estimation isn’t outlandish. The Braves will value Hernandez’s reliability and health this offseason, and the relatively short contract reduces risk—something they usually try to avoid in free agency. However, this is merely a projection. Coming off a career year and being a key player for a Dodgers team on the brink of a World Series, Hernandez will attract attention from various general managers, potentially leading to a bidding war. It wouldn’t be surprising if another team offers him a four-year deal close to $100 million, which would likely be too steep for Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves.
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