By: Colin Lacy

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

After what most Braves fans see as a 2024 Braves season that didn’t meet expectations, Alex Anthopolous was expected to make a splash this offseason to bolster the roster, but up until this point in late December, there has barely been a ripple, let alone a splash.

Most of the news involving the Braves coming across your ticker has been now former Bravos now donning a new uniform going forward.

The biggest subtraction from the Atlanta club is one that most suspected would not be back in the 404 after not landing on an extension prior to the 2024 season, but came to fruition in mid-December when Max Fried signed an eight-year contract with the Yankees.

Other departures include Travis d’Arnaud team option not exercised and promptly signing a two year deal with the Angels.

There have been some pens to paper to add to the Braves clubhouse, but most would fly under the radar for the casual Braves fan.

The most recent coming on December 20^th with the Braves trading for RHP Davis Daniel with the Angles and sending minor league lefty hurler Mitch Farris to Anaheim.

Daniel was born in Atlanta and was a seventh-round selection out of Auburn. The former Tiger made his major league debut in 2023 with three appearances out of the Angels bullpen and put up a 2.19 ERA in the short debut season.

With experience in both the back end of the Angels rotation last year and out of the bullpen, Daniel gives the Braves options on how he is used and what the best path looks like for the partnership.

The only other addition to note (if you want to call it that) is signing outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a one-year non-guaranteed deal.

The past few years haven’t worked out for De La Cruz. In 2024, De La Cruz started the season with the Marlins and fell victim to the Miami Fire Sale in late July when he was traded to Pittsburgh for a pair of prospects.

After 44 games with the Pirates, De La Cruz was non-tendered by the club after just a .200 average and three homers.

There are a couple of bright spots in this somewhat head-scratching signing for the Braves. While Atlanta fans can hope for another rejuvenating season that the Braves development staff have done in the past, the biggest plus to this signing is options.

De La Cruz is a young player at 27 years old and still has options to be used, so if he doesn’t make the team out of spring, he can be sent to Gwinnett as depth.

Because of not exercising d’Arnaud’s $8 million option and re-working the contracts of Renaldo Lopez and Aaron Bummer to a lower dollar amount than anticipated, the Braves have some money to play with to go after that “splash” that has been hoped for since September.

Anthopolous said early in the off-season that he wouldn’t be deterred by the higher penalties (higher taxes with competitive balance tax thresholds) in order to go out and sign someone that could really help the club, but now the question is what’s the priority?

You can argue if the priority should be a bat in the outfield or help in the rotation or a key bullpen arm.

To me, the lineup should be mark number one. As hot and cold as the offense was last season, they seemed to be missing a solid bat in the middle of the order to be consistent all season long.

You find that, in a way, it takes the stress off the pitching staff both on the rotation and the pen. Now… just have to find it.