Braves make first move of 2020 free agency

The Braves brought back Tomlin on Wednesday in their first move of MLB free agency

It’s expected to be a cold Winter in Atlanta, even if the temperature doesn’t reflect the stale nature of the Braves front office. All MLB teams suffered huge losses in the shortened 2020 season due to a lack of fan attendance and less money gathered from TV contracts. Unfortunately, despite their status as billionaires, MLB owners do not take well to losing money.

The widespread impact on MLB free agency will be felt at every corner of the market. It’s why big names like Marcus Stroman are staying put, signing their qualifying offers rather than explore a multi-year offer. The odds of receiving a large, once in a career contract aren’t as high this Winter.

This forces MLB GMs to get creative, and Alex Anthopoulos has made the first move, signing Josh Tomlin to a one-year deal.

Why is Tomlin an important addition to the Braves pitching staff?

Tomlin won’t be the biggest name the Braves sign this Winter, but he has familiarity with Atlanta’s dugout and is one of the best innings-eaters available. As a potential back-end starter, Tomlin can provide some stability, as he pitched to a 3.74 ERA in Atlanta in 2019. Such numbers won’t make an All-Star team, but they’re necessary for a squad like the Braves to take the next step and save their big guns like Max Fried and Mike Soroka coming off injury for the playoffs. Less innings for those young starters means they’ll be fresher come the 2021 postseason.

Starting pitchers around baseball are expected to have innings limits after the unusual nature of the 2020 season, and an offseason unlike any other. Having Tomlin available for spot starts is invaluable on a contending team like the Braves as they seek another NL East title, and perhaps a World Series to boot.