Braves predicted to sign $63M AL wins leader, veteran All-Star with coveted World Series experience

The Atlanta Braves have had quite the offseason in terms of coaching staff changes and free agency. The team is no longer led by Brian Snitker, but will now be managed by bench coach Walt Weiss, who was hired as the organization’s next manager.

“The Atlanta Braves hired Walt Weiss as manager Monday, turning to their longtime bench coach in hopes of a turnaround after they missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Weiss, 61, managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016, going 283-365 and never finishing higher than third place. He inherits a talented Braves team that finished 76-86 and was ravaged by injuries,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.

Atlanta has been efficient this winter in addressing player needs. The only area left untouched is the starting rotation. The reason is Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos wants to sign a pitcher with plenty of postseason experience.

“We’ve explored the starting rotation, adding and getting some type of starter, whether that’s a trade or signing. We’d like for it to be someone impactful, someone we think can start a playoff game,” Anthopoulos said.

One veteran to watch as Spring Training approaches is Chris Bassitt, who is coming off a World Series appearance this past season.

“As for Bassitt, he’s considerably older but has been more durable and more consistent. The 36-year-old righty (37 next month) ranks seventh in the majors in games started and eighth in innings pitched over the past six seasons. During that time, he’s pitched to a combined 3.57 earned run average with a 22.7% strikeout rate, 7.2% walk rate and a 44% ground-ball rate. All of those are right at the league average, if not slightly better,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.

The Braves have options, but some are not as reliable as Bassitt. When healthy, Atlanta boasts one of the best starting rotations in baseball, but last year that was a major issue.

The NL East is expected to be packed once again, making the addition of a pitcher like Bassitt crucial. Atlanta knows last season was a fluke, and adding a durable starter helps alleviate concerns about the health of the rotation.

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