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4 players Braves missed on at the deadline, but can sign this offseason

By Cody Williams

BOSTON, MA - JULY 23: Adam Duvall #18 of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated after scoring against the New York Mets during the third inning at Fenway Park on July 23, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 23: Adam Duvall #18 of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated after scoring against the New York Mets during the third inning at Fenway Park on July 23, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves, Braves Rumors, Michael Lorenzen
MIAMI, FLORIDA – AUGUST 3: Michael Lorenzen #22 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on August 3, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves weren’t active at the trade deadline but they can sign some of the players they missed on trading for in free agency this offseason. 

As the dust settled on the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, the Atlanta Braves didn’t make much noise. It’s been made clear that Alex Anthopoulos was one of several front office leaders who ended up shut out on the starting pitching market. But the end result was the Braves landing relievers Pierce Johnson and Brad Hand along with infielder Nicky Lopez at the deadline.

That, obviously, is a lackluster trade haul that won’t get Cobb County buzzing about the new additions. Of course, it may not matter with Atlanta still cruising with a double-digit lead in the NL East, the best record in baseball, and the best odds to win the World Series still.

No matter how this season ends up, though, the Braves and Anthopoulos can make up for the quiet trade deadline in the offseason. In fact, Atlanta has the chance to go after several players who were mentioned as Braves trade targets and sign them for the 2024 season and perhaps beyond.

These four players stand out as guys that Atlanta should definitely utilize a deadline redo on and sign this offseason.

4. Braves can sign Michael Lorenzen in free agency to replace Charlie Morton

One of the non-star rental starting pitchers who was dealt at the deadline was Michael Lorenzen. The veteran right-hander was ultimately traded from the Detroit Tigers to an Atlanta rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.

In his one start thus far with the Phils on Thursday, Lorenzen has already made an impact as he went 8.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits and one walk to help push Philadelphia to a win. This continues a phenomenal season for the veteran in which he was Detroit’s lone representative at the All-Star Game.

Lorenzen has obviously been great this season, posting a 3.48 ERA and 1.08 WHIP overall on the year. But the truth of the matter is that he’s been a solid starter for some time now. Since 2016 while playing with the Reds, Angels, Tigers and now Phillies, Lorenzen has posted an ERA over 4.45 just once and has never had a WHIP higher than 1.40.

Even if he regresses from his stellar 2023 season, he’s proven he can be a reliable starter in a rotation.

For the Braves, with Charlie Morton having a $20 million club option for the 2024 season, it’s likely that they look to move on from him, especially considering that the 39-year-old has shown signs of decline this season in his performance. That could make way for the Braves trying to fill that role in spirit, which the then-32-year-old Lorenzen could undoubtedly do while actually upgrading the overall strength of Atlanta’s starting rotation.

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