Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicted that the Atlanta Braves’ 2025 starting rotation would have a new two-time World Series winner.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report took on the onerous task of forecasting every single MLB starting rotation at the start of the 2025 season.
Unfortunately for the Atlanta Braves, Reuter projected that Max Fried and Charlie Morton would not return. However, Reuter expected the Braves to sign veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.
“The Braves will need to make at least one outside addition to account for losing both Max Fried and Charlie Morton in free agency, and Nathan Eovaldi would be a great workhorse veteran to help shoulder the load alongside Chris Sale at the top of the rotation,” said Reuter.
“They can then hold an open competition for the No. 5 starter job during spring training with the knowledge Spencer Strider will eventually return.”
Here’s Reuter’s whole projected starting rotation for the Braves:
1. LHP Chris Sale
2. RHP Nathan Eovaldi
3. RHP Reynaldo López
4. RHP Spencer Schwellenbach
5. RHP Grant Holmes
Reuter also listed AJ Smith Shawver, Bryce Elder, Ian Anderson, Hurston Waldrep, Allan Winans and Dylan Dodd as other internal candidates to be in Atlanta’s starting rotation to begin the season.
There’s a couple different ways to react to Reuter’s list.
The prospect of losing both Fried and Morton is likely to disappoint most Braves fans. Eovaldi, who has earned over $110.7 million in his 13-year MLB career, would be a valuable addition, but he cannot fill both positions.
Strider’s comeback, however, will give any Braves starting rotation in 2025 a lift, possibly a month into the season. When that happens, Holmes will revert to spot starter duties, which were crucial for the Braves in 2024 as they attempted to restrict Chris Sale’s innings.
Last season, Eovaldi was 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA, 1.107 WHIP, and 166 strikeouts in 170.2 innings for the Texas Rangers. He made the Rangers’ All-Star team in 2023, going 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA. In 2021, Eovaldi was again named an All-Star for the Boston Red Sox.
Eovaldi’s postseason record should appeal to the Braves as well. He pitched brilliantly for the Red Sox on their march to the 2018 World Series championship. Eovaldi also served on the Rangers’ pitching staff when they won their first championship in 2023.
Only adding Eovaldi while losing Fried and Morton will give the Braves rotation little room for error. If any other injuries occur before Strider returns, or if several injuries occur after Strider returns, Atlanta will be forced to rely on unproven in-house MLB commodities.
But if the Braves are willing to take that risk, signing Eovaldi and then investing money elsewhere on the roster could be a wise decision.
Signing Eovaldi is a very realistic option for Atlanta. On November 27, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that the Braves have expressed interest in the veteran right-hander.
