One of the Atlanta Braves' most painful offseason decisions was parting ways with bullpen cog A.J. Minter. The move wasn't made any easier by the fact that Minter would sign with one of the team's hated division rivals. Seeing Minter in a New York Mets uniform felt wrong from the start.
However, Atlanta fans appreciated Minter's early return to form as long as it wasn't at their own expense. The reliever was such an important piece for so many seasons, even in a Mets uni, it was hard not to cheer for the veteran.
After a strong start, things have taken an unfortunate turn with Minter being forced to have season-ending lat surgery. The reliever's season ending in April is a sad ending to what was a fun bounce-back story for the veteran.
A.J. Minter is done for the year after putting together an impressive 2025 start
Minter is in the first of a two-year deal in New York, with Minter having a player option for the 2026 season. It appears that this injury will all but lock the veteran into an additional season with Atlanta's division rival.
Atlanta's decision to move on from the reliever remains a very questionable one. The team has somewhat stabilized a bullpen unit that punished the team consistently in the first weeks of the season. There is still a high level of concern about who can be relied on when the game matters most.
Manager Brian Snitker is going to have his hands full if the team fails to make notable additions. With this in mind, the Braves should be expected to be active both ahead of this year's trade deadline and in the coming weeks of the season.
For Minter, it is an undeniable setback for a player who will always garner a lot of love in Atlanta. Minter's role in the team's 2021 World Series run cemented the reliever as an Atlanta legend no matter what happened moving forward. This included signing with one of the two teams Atlanta hates most.
Braves fans wish Minter a speedy recovery and hope perhaps a surprise reunion could be in the team's future. Considering the recent tendency of reuniting with former Braves, it isn't a stretch to believe this could be on the table.