3 free agent contracts Braves should've matched this offseason

3 free agent contracts Braves should’ve matched this offseason

By Mark Powell | Jan 30, 2023

HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Joc Pederson #22 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after the 7-0 victory against the Houston Astros in Game Six to win the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 23: Rafael Montero #47 of the Houston Astros pitches in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Braves should have signed Rafael Montero

Atlanta lacks a true closer. Kenley Jansen signed with the Boston Red Sox, and looked to be on his last legs at the end of the season anyway. There weren’t many closers on the free-agent market, but one of them was Rafael Montero.

Montero shined for the Houston Astros during their World Series run, and will return to the closer spot in the bullpen for the world champions. If he’s good enough for Houston, he sure would’ve been an improvement for the Braves.

A.J. Minter is slotted in as Atlanta’s closer for now. While he’s coming off an electric campaign, Minter has little closing experience. Montero, meanwhile, has been doing this for quite some time.

Even if Minter succeeds, the Braves bullpen depth will be tested early and often this year. Joe Jimenez, acquired from the Detroit Tigers, must turn things around quickly after a year in which he consistently struggled to find the strike zone.

Signing Montero was not a necessity, but it would’ve been a luxury the Braves could afford.

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