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The Atlanta Braves have a lot of work to do this offseason.
The rotation is littered with holes with Max Fried and Charlie Morton testing free agency, while Spencer Strider is not expected to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing internal brace surgery for a torn UCL in April. At least one starting pitcher must be added this winter, possibly even multiple.
The bullpen also needs some work. It was announced not long ago that Joe Jimenez will miss most of the 2025 season, if not all of it, after undergoing knee surgery. That’s a massive blow to the unit, especially when considering A.J. Minter, Jesse Chavez, and Luke Jackson are all now free agents as well.
However, the Braves biggest issue in 2024 had nothing to do with its pitching staff, which was arguably the best in baseball. The offense was dreadful. A lot of that had to do with injuries, but this is still a lineup that can stand to upgrade in several areas, most notably in the outfield and at shortstop.
Projected Starting Lineup
CF Michael Harris III
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Matt Olson
RF Ramón Laureano
C Sean Murphy
LF Jarred Kelenic
SS Orlando Arcia
SP Chris SaleNotes
-With Jorge Soler sent to the Los Angeles Angels in the first notable trade of the offseason, the Braves seem poised to roll with Ramón Laureano and Jarred Kelenic at the corner outfield spots once again until Ronald Acuña Jr. is ready to return to action.
-Incumbent shortstop Orlando Arcia is owed just $2 million in 2025 and a $1 million buyout on a $2 million club option in 2026, so if the Braves decide to pursue an upgrade, his contract status will not stand in the way.
You won’t get any objections from me when it comes to Orlando Arcia. As much as the Braves would love to upgrade shortstop, paying Willy Adames $150+ million doesn’t seem like smart business. Most likely, Alex Anthopoulos will roll with Arcia and his $2 million contract for a third consecutive season in hopes he experiences some positive regression.
However, if the Braves don’t spend big dollars on a shortstop, there’s absolutely no way they can sit on their hands and ignore the outfield. Jarred Kelenic was essentially benched at the end of last season. There’s hope that his best baseball is ahead of him, but penciling him as a starter for Opening Day next year is asinine.
The same can be said for Ramon Laureano. As much good as he did for the Braves in the second half of last season, there’s a reason he was designated for assignment by the Guardians. He is not an everyday starting outfielder long-term, and I don’t even find it likely that the Braves tender him a contract. Both positions must be upgraded this offseason, and it shouldn’t be that difficult to accomplish.
Frankly, this is a pretty lazy Opening Day roster prediction for the Braves. I’ll eat five cans of Dollar Store escargot live on my YouTube channel if the Braves Opening Day lineup features both Jarred Kelenic and Ramon Laureano.
More must-reads:
- Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ties franchise record with HR vs. Twins
- 'Really cool': NASCAR driver weighs in on MLB's Speedway Classic at racetrack
- The 'MLB All-Star Game MVPs' quiz
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ties franchise record with HR vs. Twins
MLB's midseason break was kind to Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani. On Wednesday, the three-time MVP tied a Dodgers franchise record with a home run in his fifth consecutive game, taking Minnesota Twins right-handed starting pitcher Chris Paddack 441 feet to centerfield on an 0-2 79 mph curveball in the bottom of the first inning. Ohtani entered the All-Star break with 32 home runs but had just two in his 12 previous games before beginning his current streak. He's appeared in 101 of L.A.'s 103 games, putting him on pace for 159 games this season. If Ohtani continues at his home run trajectory, he'll set a personal record for single-season home runs, breaking the record he established last season, his first with the Dodgers. Per ESPN Bet, Ohtani (-1800) is an overwhelming favorite to be named NL MVP for the second consecutive season. With every home run hit, his odds of receiving a fourth overall MVP award likely increase. Also helping Ohtani's case is his return to the mound after not pitching a season ago while rehabbing from 2023 surgery. The Dodgers have slowly eased him back, with Ohtani throwing 12 innings in six starts, allowing nine hits and two earned runs with 13 strikeouts. Per Baseball Savant, he ranks in the top six percent in average fastball velocity (97.8 mph), a promising sign as he continues his progression. While the Dodgers keep him on a pitch count, Ohtani didn't need much warming up at the plate following the in-season break to find his swing. Some might argue he's already in postseason form.
Maple Leafs continue to play moneyball: Three big names in play
With Mitch Marner’s move to the Vegas Golden Knights closing a major chapter in Toronto, GM Brad Treliving made a series of moves to replace his production. He might not be done. Three may be even bolder moves on the horizon. We’ve heard the names Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf before. However, the Maple Leafs are actively fielding and exploring trade scenarios as they look to reshape their roster — and according to Nick Kypreos, a handful of intriguing names are emerging in trade chatter: Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, and former Leafs fan-favorite Nazem Kadri. The most surprising name still generating buzz is Rielly. Despite being a longtime cornerstone on Toronto’s blue line, his $7.5 million cap hit and no-move clause complicate matters. Yet with the team needing help up front, and possible interest in offensive defensemen like Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, Rielly could become part of a larger plan if he’s open to waiving. Also surprising is the talk surrounding Carlo. A recent addition to the Leafs’ defense corps, he is already being talked about behind the scenes as a potential trade piece. If he were made available, there is interest around the league, as the 6-foot-6 shutdown defender has a team-friendly cap hit and strong penalty-killing ability. Trading Carlo could get the Leafs a top-six forward. Finally, reports on the availability of Kadri remain conflicting. Some say he’s not available, while others suggest that the Calgary Flames would consider the idea. The former Maple Leaf would be a welcome addition back to Toronto, but there isn’t much of a reason for the Flames to trade him unless the return is outstanding. Kadri reportedly would consider waiving his no-move clause for a reunion. That said, getting a deal done won’t be easy, especially with Montreal also rumored to be on his short list. Whether any of these deals come to pass or are just pure speculation, one thing’s sure: the Maple Leafs aren’t standing still. Treliving is trying to get his roster to score more goals. He seems willing to entertain any idea and play Moneyball with the roster if it will help.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin's Secret Comments About George Pickens Exposed By ESPN Analyst
The Pittsburgh Steelers, in back-to-back offseasons, traded away a talented wide receiver. Heading into the 2024 NFL season, the team made the surprising decision to move on from Diontae Johnson, sending him to the Carolina Panthers. It was a bold move that left questions about depth behind George Pickens, but the Steelers appeared to have a long-term plan in mind. This week, fans got a clearer picture. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky had told Louis Riddick a story and Riddick exposed it on Get Up on Wednesday and shared a never-before-told story about Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s relationship with Pickens. According to Riddick, Tomlin once passionately defended his coaching approach to Orlovsky when questioned about how he handled Pickens, offering a glimpse into the challenges the Steelers faced behind closed doors. "I sat in a TV production meeting where Mike Tomlin chastised Dan Orlovsky for asking about George Pickens and why George Pickens wasn't maybe being reprimanded a little bit harsher," Riddick said. "And Mike in no uncertain terms, said, 'Look, you don't give up on talent like this at this point.' So trust me, he knew what he had on his hands, too. As far as the upside of this young man." While the full story behind Pickens’ departure may never be known, it’s becoming increasingly clear that off-field concerns weighed heavily on Tomlin’s mind. The Steelers knew Pickens was a rare talent, and that’s why Tomlin didn’t punish him as much as he probably could have. It wasn’t because he thought Pickens was good enough to get away with it, but because his coaching style is different for every player. In Tomlin’s mind, he still had faith that Pickens would mature, but it appears that growth just didn’t happen fast enough. "We were all, were like, whoa," Riddick said of the panels reaction to Tomlin's secret comments in that production meeting. "Mike was not playing around. He was like, 'Y'all know how this business works now.'" Riddick described the moment as tense, and as the quotes are now being shared, Steelers fans are likely picturing exactly how that meeting went down. Tomlin is known for being a direct, no-nonsense leader. If something bothers him, he speaks up, and it appears he did not appreciate being questioned by Orlovsky about his coaching style when it came to Pickens. Steelers Fans Starting To Understand More Details Behind The George Pickens Trade According to Riddick, Tomlin firmly defended his approach during the exchange. He explained that his coaching style depends on the individual player, and with Pickens, he chose to be patient rather than overly critical. Tomlin believed Pickens could grow with time and guidance. In his mind, treating every player the same does not always produce the best results, and he trusted that Pickens would eventually mature. Despite Tomlin’s belief in his potential, that growth never fully happened. As a result, the Steelers chose to make a change. With Pickens now gone and Metcalf brought in to lead the wide receiver room, Pittsburgh is turning the page. Still, the story behind Pickens’ exit is one that will stick with fans, especially as more behind-the-scenes details continue to surface.
Tony Marinaro: In the best-case scenario, a 40-goal season for Laine is possible
Patrik Laine scored 20 goals in his first season with the Canadiens.Actually… I’ll start my sentence again. Patrik Laine scored 20 goals in his first season with the Canadiens, playing just 52 games. By not having a regular line-up. With an injury-plagued knee. And yet, he helped the Habs earn their ticket to the spring dance. With better support and health, he might have been able to put in even more. And that’s what Tony Marinaro said on the latest episode of his Sick Podcast. Without saying he sees Laine scoring 40 goals next season… Marinaro seems to think there’s a world in which the Finn can score 40. The stars have to align: Laine needs to arrive at camp fit, he needs to stay healthy… and he needs to take advantage of the talent of Ivan Demidov – and Kirby Dach, if it works out – to produce even more. [content-ads] Do I believe it? Not necessarily. Because there’s one thing I’m not sure about: Laine might not play on the top-6 if Zachary Bolduc explodes, and Laine might lose his spot on the 1st wave of the powerplay with the emergence of a guy like Demidov. That said, we know the big sniper has the shot and the skills to pull off a feat like this. If that happens, the Habs could have two excellent scorers in Caufield and Laine… and Tony Marinaro makes a good point of mentioning it: if these two guys are able to fill the net, the Canadiens are going to have a wicked good chance of making the playoffs.Especially in the context that the Canadiens are the only club in their division to actually be better – on paper – than they were last season. I can’t wait to see how Laine performs, because he’ll have to work hard to be an important player in Montreal next season. But then again: if the stars align… anything’s possible, considering the talent in Montreal right now. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Oh yeah? – I agree. – Rightly so. – Seen the same.
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