The Braves finally broke their nearly three months of silence last night, signing Marcell Ozuna on a four-year, $ 65 million contract with a fifth-year option. It is the biggest contract that Alex Anthopoulos has awarded to a free agent since he became the general manager in Atlanta and solidifies the Braves roster in the coming years, but he is not yet finished.
The Braves still have a few holes to fill and have the money to do that. Ozuna will earn an average of $ 16 million a year on his new contract, but will earn just $ 12 million in 2021, leaving some room for maneuver for the Braves.
Last year, Atlanta had its highest Opening Day payroll in the franchise’s history, with more than $ 150 million (before prorated wages were imposed). They currently have less than $ 130 million before the 2021 season. Now, COVID-19 can play a role, giving Alex Anthopoulos a much tighter budget than last season, but judging by the composition of the current list, I expect this year’s Opening Day payroll to be very similar to 2020.
So, what will Anthopoulos spend this money on?
To start, the Braves need to severely update their bank. They must add a backup collector, and Tyler Flowers is still there as a free agent. I wouldn’t mind bringing him back. William Contreras was stellar in a small sample last season, but he still needs some time to perfect his AAA game. Atlanta should also look for a fourth outfielder, and like Flowers, Adam Duvall remains available. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back, unless I’m looking for a place where I can be a daily player. These hires make more sense, but at the very least we expect Braves to announce some minor additions to help improve its bank in the coming days.
Atlanta could also use at least one more bullpen arm. As I mentioned several times in this off-season – with Drew Smyly and Charlie Morton in the herd – the Braves have a ton of relief options. However, they do not have many who can rely on online gambling. Bringing back a guy like Mark Melancon, Shane Greene or both should be a priority after Ozuna’s signings.
I’m also not going to count another substantial splash. If Braves is willing to hit last season’s Opening Day payroll, or even exceed it, he will have enough space to upgrade to third base. They were linked to Justin Turner, and even though it seems like a dream, Turner and the Dodgers seem to be at an impasse in contract negotiations. There are still several third-base men that the Braves can hit in a trade, as well as Jose Ramirez or Kris Bryant.
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It was a painfully slow off-season, but after hiring Ozuna, I don’t know how anyone could be more than enthusiastic about entering the 2021 season. Atlanta now has a renewed rotation that can rival any other in baseball, and they signed the necessary piece to ensure that your attack is as powerful as last year’s. Now, all they need to do is complete the squad and they must be in perfect shape to repeat themselves as champions of the NL Leste for the fourth consecutive year.