Over the span of roughly 24 hours, the Atlanta Braves turned an offseason full of questions into a roster that looks deep and ready to defend its World Series title.
After the Atlanta Braves moved on from Freddie Freeman, a cascade of roster moves brought a great deal of clarity into what the team will be in 2022.
From the time Tuesday dawned until midday on Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves went on a stunning run of moves to strengthen their lineup.
To start, Atlanta locked up first base for years to come by inking newly acquired Matt Olson to an eight-year extension valued at $168 million. The extension also includes a team option for the 2030 season at $30 million. Compare that to the $135 million, five-year deal the Braves reportedly offered Freeman at the start of the offseason and it’s easy to see the value for a longer deal with a younger player.
While Atlanta fans may miss Freeman, a cornerstone of the franchise since his debut in 2010, it’s likely that Olson’s bat and immediate contributions to the lineup will heal any wounds remaining from Freeman’s departure quickly.
While Freeman was a big part of last year’s World Series win for the Braves, so was the addition of Eddie Rosario at the trade deadline as part of a rebuilt Atlanta lineup and outfield. Coming over from Cleveland, Rosario posted a .383 batting average in Atlanta’s 16 postseason contests, including a .560 batting average with three home runs to earn National League Championship Series MVP honors.
Now the outfielder is back with the Braves, signing a two-year, $18 million deal on Wednesday. His left-handed bat will be a welcome part of the lineup, as will Olson’s.
On the pitching side, Atlanta inking right-hander Collin McHugh on Tuesday to a two-year deal for a guaranteed $10 million should be a strong addition in the Braves bullpen. McHugh has been consistently good out of the bullpen in recent seasons, no matter which team he has pitched for. Since 2018, he has logged a 2.11 ERA. That’s the second-lowest number for any MLB reliever with at least 100 innings thrown during that time.
And, as pointed out in this article, McHugh has the capability to do a variety of things for a pitching staff, including opening games and throwing multiple innings. Look for him to continue to be a Swiss army knife with the Braves.
Also, in an under-the-radar signing, Atlanta signed free agent outfielder Alex Dickerson to a one-year, $1 million non-guaranteed contract. He becomes a part of the 40-man roster and potentially gives the Braves another left-handed bat off the bench. He played in 111 games for the San Francisco Giants last season and hit 13 homers, the second consecutive season where the career .260 hitter has hit double-digit bombs.
With Ronald Acuña Jr. coming back from injury, the Atlanta Braves already looked like a strong contender to once again reach the Fall Classic. With a flurry of moves in a span of roughly 24 hours just before spring training games get underway, the Braves are hitting mid-March with an even stronger roster and plenty of momentum.