Atlanta Braves Continue to Avoid Adding Impact Players as Injuries Mount

The Atlanta Braves Spring Training is nearing its end, as the team’s injuries continue to mount. Two bullpen arms and the Braves best starter are expected to start the season on the DL.

Mike Foltynewicz was the Atlanta Braves best pitcher last season and will now begin the season rehabbing from an elbow injury. Likewise, A.J. Minter and Darren O’Day will not be ready to start the season.

These three injuries are huge for a team who needs everything to go perfectly to contend in 2019. They will be without their best starting pitcher and without their best late-inning arm.

After an apathetic  (or more accurately a pathetic) off-season, it would seem these injuries would scream for the Braves to make a move. With a top starter and the best closer in baseball still on the free agent market, it seems a no brainer the Braves must add at least one of these players.

If they go into the season as currently constructed Atlanta is banking on their young prospects coming through and carrying the load. Or the team will falter and struggle out of the gate in 2019. Now is the time to spend the money the front office promised the fanbase they would use this offseason.

Instead, they have come under last season’s payroll and appeared to be happy sitting and waiting while the division around them surpasses their roster.

Even fully healthy the Braves aren’t the best team in their division on paper. Now with injuries taking out two of their best pitchers, the Braves certainly must make a move.

If they stick with their current roster their chances of repeating as division champs are slim to none. To repeat the team would have to get a great season from at least two of their young pitchers, Julio Teheran to pitch consistently, and their young stars to take steps forward.

All of this happening seems far fetched, yet another reason demanding the Braves make a move to improve this roster before it is too late. More to come as the season nears.