The Braves finally broke their nearly three-month silence last night and colored Marcell Ozuna into a four-year, $ 65 million contract with a fifth-year option. It’s the biggest contract Alex Anthopoulos has handed over to a free agent since becoming general manager in Atlanta and strengthening the Braves series for years to come, but he’s not done yet.
The Braves still have a few holes to fill, and they have the money to do so. Ozuna earns an average of $ 16 million annually on his new contract, but he will only earn $ 20 million in 2021, leaving the Braves some room to move.
Last year, Atlanta had its highest opening day wage in franchise history at more than $ 150 million (before the valued salaries were applied). Currently, they amount to less than $ 130 million in the 2021 season. Now, COVID-19 could play a role, giving Alex Anthopoulos a much tighter budget than last season, but judging by the composition of the current roster, I expect the opening day wage this year to be very similar to 2020s.
What, then, will Anthopoulos spend the money on?
To begin with, the Braves need to seriously upgrade their bench. They need to add a backup catcher, and Tyler Flowers is still there as a free agent. I would not mind bringing him back at all. William Contreras was in a small sample size last season, but he still needs time to polish his game in AAA. Atlanta must also be looking for a fourth fielder, and just like Flowers, Adam Duvall remains available. I would not be surprised at all if he comes back unless he is looking for a place where he can be an everyday player. These signings make the most sense, but at least expect the Braves to announce some minor additions to improve their bench in the coming days.
Atlanta can also use at least one more bullpen arm. As I have mentioned several times, the Braves have a bunch of lighting options, with Drew Smyly and Charlie Morton in the herd. However, they do not have much that can be trusted with the game at stake. Bringing back a guy like Mark Melancon, Shane Greene or both should be a top priority after the Ozuna signing.
I also wouldn’t expect another significant splash. If the Braves are willing to reach their opening day wage from last season, or even exceed it, they have enough room to upgrade on the third base. They are linked to Justin Turner, and while it feels like a pipe dream, it appears that Turner and the Dodgers are at a stalemate in contract negotiations. There are still a few third basemen who could also target the Braves in a trade like Jose Ramirez or Kris Bryant.
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It was a painfully slow off-season, but after signing Ozuna, I do not know how anyone else can be enthusiastic about entering the 2021 season. Atlanta now has a revamped rotation that could compete against baseball, and they have signed the one piece needed to ensure their offense will be just as strong as last year. Now, all they have to do is round off the roster, and they need to be in perfect shape to repeat as NL East champions for the fourth year in a row.