Only five games in the 2025 season, the Braves are already playing from behind

THE Suspension of the left defender Jurickson Profar For 80 games it is a problem. THE Inflammation in the right shoulder of Reynaldo López It could be a bigger problem. But the real problem for the Atlanta Braves began for thanks, when they retired from an agreement for the right arm of free will Jeff Hoffman for a concern for the shoulder.

The Braves meant that Hoffman was the fulcrum of their out of season renovation, a distinction that eventually fell to Profar, who signed a 42 million dollar Free-Agent contract. Their plan was to convert Hoffman from a relief in an appetizer, just like they did with López a year ago. Even Hoffman, 32 years old, could have returned to their bullpen at any time if the rotation of the team had proved to be quite deep, providing flexibility that could not fail to be able to more conventional appetizers.

The Baltimore Orioles also made an agreement with Hoffman in January, pushing him to sign a three -year contract of 33 million dollars with Toronto Blue Jays. Hoffman told Sportsnet That both Braves and Orioles “are back with offers with less money. So, you can read what you want.” The Braves have not signed any other launcher of free agents to an agreement from the Maggiore League. And five games in the season, both their rotation and the Bullpen seem already thin.

Yet, even with the punch one-two that the Braves were absorbed on Monday on Profar and López, even with their 0-5 record, could still be ok. They expect the right arm Spencer Screer and the catcher Sean Murphy return from the wound list by the end of April and the right defender Ronald Acuña in early May. And with the suspension of Profar for a substance that improves the unpaid prohibited performance, they will save about 5.8 million dollars in salary and luxury paychecks.

Profar will not be admissible for the post-stage if the Braves qualify, but the team is now almost $ 14 million below the luxury tax threshold, according to Fangraphs. The actual available liquidity amount is even higher, according to a source informed on the club’s situation. And the only cost to overcome the threshold would be financial; The Braves, exceeding a third consecutive year, would pay a fee of 50 % for each dollar which spent over $ 241 million. Hardly an overwhelming penalty, if the Braves arrive there.

The president of the Alex Anthopoulos baseball operations is generally aggressive at commercial expiry, and is now able to pursue practically any player who becomes available, regardless of the salary. Miami Marlins Righty Sandy Alcántara Figures to be the largest prize, assuming that the Marlin are willing to move it. With Profar who will return at the end of June, Anthopoulos will also have time to evaluate the state of his crime before the expiry of 31 July.

However, what could have been with Hoffman could linger.

The Jays signed Hoffman to be closer, and surely he seemed healthy, launching inning without score in consecutive games on Saturday and Sunday. According to reports, the Braves wanted to sign it to Five -year deal between $ 45 and $ 48 million. Hoffman said to Sportsnet that he would initially be an appetizer before returning to Bullpendo in the last years of the agreement.

Jeff Hoffman celebrates a rescue with the Blue Jays on Sunday. (John E. Sokolowski / Image Images)

The Braves considered Hoffman as an ideal fit, a high-level game with a five-pit mix and the potential to follow López’s journey towards the all-star game as an appetizer. After the agreement failed, they broadcast launchers like Charlie Morton and José Quintana, pure beginners who have not been able to launch relief. Hoffman, on the other hand, could have returned to Bullpendo to create opportunities for younger and less established appetizers such as Grant Holmes, Aj Smith-Shawver and Ian Anderson, which the Braves in the end exchanged with the angels of Los Angeles for the relief on the left José Suarez.

Holmes, who allowed four insers in his seasonal debut against the 6-0 debut of Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, incompened in a particularly large way in the Plans of the Braves. It is without options, therefore it could not be sent to minors without the risk of being claimed in exemption. And in 33 2/3 inning on seven departures sprayed throughout the season, he scored 40 and walked nine.

The Braves appeared with Chris Sale, López and Spencer Schwellenbach in the upper part of their rotation. The return of Screeer would leave them with only another point. If Anthopoulos had been able to exchange, for example, Garrett Crochet would not have worried so much of Holmes. But he hasn’t seen any of the partners of free agents less than an update.

Obviously, Anthopoulos did not anticipate that López hit the wound list after a single start. But now the Braves will probably have to keep both Holmes and Smith-Shawver in their rotation even after the returns of Screeer, and last season the 177 2/3 of sale were his most since 2017. Its duration is certainly not insured.

Bullpen is also a kind of mess. The Braves announced in November that the right Joe Jiménez would come out from eight to 12 months after undergoing surgery to repair the cartilage in the left knee. Mancino minter were lost against the New York Mets in Libera Agency. However, the only rescuers of free agents who added were contracts in minor alloy: Enyel de los Santos, Buck Farmer, Héctor Neris, Craig Kimbrel and Jesse Chavez.

Neris allowed five points in two appearances that embraced an inning. On Monday, the Braves designated him for the assignment to make room for Chavez’s fifth period with the club in five years. Chavez has allowed Kiké Hernández’s home race on Monday evening.

Then there is the outdoor field. The Braves signed Profar, a switch-hitter, to respond to their need for a club for Mancini. Alex Verdugo, another late signatory, eventually could play that role, but he will need time to Triple A to get fit. Before the announcement of the suspension of Profar on Monday, the Braves acquired the Stuart Fairchild Outfielder from the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations. Fairchild, a batter for the right hand, had been designated for the assignment.

Acuña will be in the field just once he returns. Michael Harris II will remain in the center. The Braves, at least until the Verdugo is ready, will see what they can get out of Jarred Kelenic and Bryan de la Cruz. But in the end, Anthopoulos will face a combination of his external field, rotation and bullpen. AND The Athletic’s Keith Law recently ranked Braves’s agricultural system The third worst in baseball.

The low season relatively quiet of Anthopoulos, combined with the money that the team will save on the suspension of Profar, should give to the Braves enviable financial muscle. But inside and off the pitch, they are playing from behind.

(Top photo of Reynaldo López: Gregory Bull / Associated Press)