Braves miss out on yet another starting pitcher

Bassitt may be turning 37 in a couple of weeks, but a one-year deal worth less than $20 million for a seasoned veteran with postseason experience and a 3.58 ERA dating back to 2018 is a bargain. It’s also the kind of low-risk deal Alex Anthopoulos has become known for when it comes to starting pitchers — see Charlie Morton and Cole Hamels.

To make the fit even more intriguing from the Braves’ perspective, Bassitt is an absolute workhorse. He may not have overpowering stuff, but he’s made at least 30 starts and thrown more than 170 innings in each of the last four seasons. That’s the kind of stability Atlanta’s rotation could desperately use. On top of that, he has a relationship with new Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, as the two were together in New York in 2022.

If the Braves couldn’t afford a fit like that for $18.5 million on a one-year deal, it’s fair to wonder whether Anthopoulos is already at the top of his budget and if another significant addition is even possible.

I’m well aware that sentiment will fire up the crowd that is constantly angry at ownership. But the reality is Atlanta’s payroll is higher than it’s ever been by a wide margin. They spent money this offseason and have handed out extensions like candy in previous years.

The real issue is resource allocation. Anthopoulos has consistently neglected the rotation year after year. Those decisions came back to bite the Braves last season, and things could already look a lot better this year if the approach had changed.