As the Atlanta Braves prepare for the offseason, they enter with significant strengths and a roster primed for contention. However, one prominent weakness has emerged: the need to improve both pitching depth and bench support. While the Braves’ potent offense, led by stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Matt Olson, remains a force to be reckoned with, the team’s pitching and bench options proved vulnerable at critical moments, revealing areas ripe for reinforcement.
The Braves’ rotation relies heavily on aces Max Fried and Spencer Strider, but injuries and inconsistent performances from other starters created challenges throughout the season. The lack of dependable middle-rotation arms put undue pressure on Fried and Strider, exposing the need for additional, reliable starting options. Adding a couple of proven, innings-eating starters could ease this burden, providing stability for a team with championship aspirations.
Atlanta’s bullpen, while anchored by closer Raisel Iglesias and setup man A.J. Minter, also needs bolstering. Beyond these standout relievers, the depth thins quickly, particularly in middle relief, where the Braves struggled to find consistent production. To maintain competitiveness in high-stakes games, adding versatile relievers would strengthen their ability to manage close contests and hold leads in crucial situations.
Additionally, the Braves’ bench lacks depth, especially with defensive versatility and speed options. Key injuries during the season highlighted a need for capable backup infielders and outfielders who can step in seamlessly.
As the offseason begins, addressing these areas of pitching depth and bench support will be essential for the Braves to build a more resilient team. With the right additions, Atlanta can aim to translate their regular-season success into a deep postseason run in 2024.
