Braves Today

Host Lindsay Crosby answers a Friday mailbag of Braves offseason questions, focusing on realistic ways to upgrade shortstop, left field, and the rotation. He discusses out-of-the-box shortstop ideas like Reds infielder Matt McLain (defense vs. offensive rebound after shoulder surgery) and evaluates Edmundo Sosa as a fallback option, preferring versatility like Mauricio Dubón’s ability to cover center field. Lindsay breaks down a proposed blockbuster for Orioles stars Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg, calling it an overpay without an extension and warning about the loss of pitching depth. He argues he isn’t concerned about long-term free-agent signings “blockin...

Lindsay Crosby breaks down the Atlanta Braves signing right-handed reliever Evan Phillips to a three-year, $35 million deal, including salary details and his 1% donation to the Braves Foundation. He explains why the contract suggests Phillips slots in as setup man behind Robert Suárez while providing proven closing insurance, reviews Phillips’ path from being a 2015 Braves draftee to a key Dodgers reliever, and assesses his post–Tommy John return, velocity gains, strikeout/walk rates, and pitch mix built around a sweeper. Crosby discusses platoon concerns, Atlanta’s bullpen spending and projected 2027 costs, and argues the move strengthens late innings without prevent...

Lindsay Crosby discusses GM Alex Anthopoulos’ update that Spencer Strider is on track for spring training and the season opener, then evaluates whether Strider should return as a starter or move to the bullpen, noting his eight-start 2026 sample (5.31 ERA) is skewed by a rough Coors Field debut and an injury-shortened Mets start, while his expected metrics and mid-3s stretch suggest he can still be effective. He argues Strider should enter camp as a starter, with a realistic outcome around 100 innings and a possible midseason bullpen shift for workload, while Atlanta still needs to add rotation help. Crosby recaps ML...

Lindsay Crosby breaks down Alex Anthopoulos’ update that Spencer Schwellenbach won’t be ready for the 2027 opening rotation, then uses MLB-backed medical research on olecranon fracture screw fixation to explain return-to-play odds and why workload—not performance—is the biggest concern. He reviews NL Manager of the Year voting as Pat Murphy beats Walt Weiss, discusses why Jacob Misiorowski is likely to win the Cy Young over Chris Sale, and runs through upcoming award announcements. Finally, he answers a subscriber question with a detailed Braves 2027 cash payroll outlook, outlining money coming off the books, built-in raises, arbitration estimates, dead money ch...

Day one of the GM Meetings brings key Braves updates: MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports Atlanta isn’t trading Ronald Acuña Jr. or even entertaining calls, with a breakdown of why his production and $17M salary still matter. Rookie of the Year voting includes two fifth-place votes for Didier Fuentes, plus discussion of 2027 ROY paths (Alex Lodise, Owen Murphy, others). Alex Anthopoulos also addresses how the Braves operate at the GM Meetings, debunks a Sonny Gray rumor, and early free-agent chatter highlights interest and potential multi-year cost for Mauricio Dubón.

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Lindsay Crosby builds Atlanta’s offseason trade board using MLB Trade Rumors’ Top 40 list, focusing on how much prospect capital to spend on starting pitching, which hitters improve OBP/contact and lineup balance, and which Braves could be moved without creating new holes. He breaks down top pitcher targets like Drew Rasmussen and Reid Detmers, rebound bets like George Kirby, depth options like Carmen Mlodzinski, and hitter fits including Zach Neto, Otto Lopez, and Steven Kwan while flagging poorer fits. He also evaluates trade feasibility for Jurickson Profar, Spencer Strider, Ozzie Albies, and Sean Murphy, emphasizing fit over availability.

Lindsay Crosby answers mailbag questions on the Braves’ 2017 international signing scandal and its penalties, then breaks down why Atlanta’s hitters struggled with ABS challenges while catchers/pitchers excelled, and whether full ABS will replace the challenge system. Rapid-fire topics include Mauricio Dubón’s potential contract amid a looming lockout, Spencer Strider’s chances to reach 200 strikeouts again, Didier Fuentes’ 2027 innings outlook, the 2027 shortstop plan, what a successful 2027 season looks like, and a Matt Olson vs. Sid Bream foot race.

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Lindsay Crosby breaks down Atlanta Braves Holdings’ earnings call, focusing on why Braves Vision looks costly now yet could be a major long-term success. He explains the shift from a fixed rights-fee model to the Braves owning distribution, subscriptions, ads, and data, plus why expenses were front-loaded while revenue is collected in arrears through later quarters. Attendance, ticket sales, and retail/licensing rose, driven partly by City Connects, while cash flow timing led to increased borrowing despite ample liquidity. Crosby discusses what this means for future payroll, notes management’s emphasis that winning drives revenue, and highlights ongoing Section 162 tax...

Lindsay Crosby breaks down why the Rangers may explore trades involving Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Corey Seager despite wanting to compete, citing payroll constraints. He evaluates deGrom’s contract, no-trade clause, recent performance indicators, and potential trade/extension structures; compares Eovaldi as a simpler, lower-cost option with pitch-mix concerns; and explains why Seager’s positional fit is enticing but risky due to health, long-term money, and roster construction issues.

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Lindsay Crosby breaks down four newly posted Asian players—NPB pitchers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh, NPB slugger Teruaki Sato, and KBO third baseman Si-Hwan Roh—through the lens of Atlanta’s need for rotation help and offensive diversification. With MLB’s Dec. 1 lockout deadline ending posting windows, the Braves must act fast. Crosby details Taira’s unique low-slot, high-extension profile and upside, Ito’s innings-eating reliability, and why Sato and Rho are poorer fits given Atlanta’s roster and strikeout concerns. He explains posting fees don’t count toward the CBT, making international signings a potential value play, and concludes th...

Lindsay Crosby breaks down a report that the Orioles could listen on nearly anyone, including Gunnar Henderson, and explores what a Braves trade package might realistically require. He then evaluates the eight qualifying-offer free agents, explaining Atlanta’s draft and international penalties, and identifies best fits: Seiya Suzuki and Randy Arozarena (plus a cautious look at Trevor Rogers), while ruling out others like Jake Bauers, Ryan Jeffers, Adrian Morejon, and David Bednar for roster/fit reasons.

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Free agency opens at 5 PM as Atlanta faces 11 free agents and must balance retention vs. replacement. The show breaks players into priorities, focuses on whether Mauricio Dubón should get a $23.15M qualifying offer, and urges prioritizing Tyler Mahle for dependable innings. Raisel Iglesias is a conditional return at the right price and role, while Joe Jiménez, Martín Pérez, and Brent Suter are depth/incentive options. Among position players, the Braves likely move on from Ha-Seong Kim, Kyle Farmer, Dominic Smith, and Rowdy Tellez, with Lane Thomas only as cheap bench insurance.

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Here's a replay of a podcast appearance Lindsay did with Paul Holden of Locked On Rockies, discussing the CBA, a potential Braves trade for shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, and how Walt Weiss is a different manager between his Colorado tenure and now in Atlanta

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Lindsay Crosby tackles three major mailbag topics: why the Braves’ Sean Murphy–William Contreras trade made sense at the time despite hindsight and Contreras’ defensive improvement; what Jurickson Profar’s early Venezuelan Winter League play can and can’t indicate, plus his likely roster outlook amid clubhouse concerns; and a Halloween-themed segment assigning candies to Braves players and staff, including Bryce Elder as candy corn.

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The Brewers win their first World Series, triggering the Braves’ offseason and key MLB dates ahead of a possible Dec. 1 lockout. Lindsay Crosby breaks down Atlanta’s club options, free-agent priorities (including Dubón, Mahle, Iglesias), payroll realities, and roster needs: dependable rotation innings, a more diverse on-base offense, and late-inning bullpen help—plus three possible offseason blueprints.

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The Braves need rotation innings and will evaluate relievers Ray Kerr and Didier Fuentes as potential starters in spring training, but moving them could weaken a bullpen that may also lose Raisel Iglesias. Lindsay Crosby breaks down what each pitcher’s arsenal, command, and durability must show to succeed beyond one inning, highlighting Kerr’s varied mix and limited post-UCL workload and Fuentes’ upside with a developing changeup and starter-level volume questions. He outlines workable usage models—Fuentes starting with Kerr in a hybrid role, pairing them as a piggyback, or stretching both out and letting spring decide—while stressing...

Dominican shortstop Alfredo Sena, widely viewed as the top 2027 international prospect, has a reported $5.8M pre-agreement with Atlanta for the Jan. 15 signing period, but it’s not binding until the window opens and MLB approves it. The episode explains Sena’s tools, why the Braves would devote most of their bonus pool to him, and how CBA negotiations and a proposed international draft could void pre-agreements or delay/cancel the signing period. It also previews possible outcomes, notes the lockout isn’t necessarily the main threat, and discusses how Rule 5 timing could affect Braves 40-man decisions, highlighting candidates like Davis...

Braves Today breaks down why Tarik Skubal uniquely fits Atlanta’s preferred starter profile (Stuff+, whiff rate, strikeout rate) but could cost a projected eight years, $355M, limiting other roster upgrades. Lindsay Crosby reviews alternative pitcher “buckets” and risks—Freddy Peralta, Jack Flaherty, Dustin May, Sonny Gray, Kevin Gausman, and Nick Martinez—then argues the Braves need both top-end ceiling and reliable innings, weighing one superstar signing versus multiple additions to stabilize the rotation behind Chris Sale.

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Lindsay Crosby answers mailbag questions on whether the Braves should move on from hitting coach Tim Hyers and whether similar “new voice” logic applies to the training staff after recent injuries. He weighs player responsibility, lineup construction, and possible replacements like Kevin Long, then uses league-wide injury data to argue Atlanta’s situation is closer to average than it feels. Crosby also explains Spencer Schwellenbach’s elbow surgery (screw stabilization), why his 2027 return timeline is uncertain, and what to watch for in his command. The episode closes with questions on pre-lockout offseason activity, trading prospect Eric Hartman, why knuckleballers have dis...

On Braves Today, Lindsay Crosby weighs whether Atlanta should re-sign free agent Raisel Iglesias despite already having Robert Suárez. Iglesias was effective in 2026 (2.55 ERA, 34 saves) but showed aging/decline indicators (lower K rate, rising hard-hit and barrel rates, slight velo dip, shoulder IL stint). Crosby argues the Braves aren’t shopping for a closer but late-inning certainty, noting limited internal high-leverage depth and the risk of external replacements.

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Lindsay Crosby breaks down MLB Trade Rumors’ arbitration projections for the Braves, arguing Dylan Lee is a clear keep around $4.2M despite recurring second-half struggles, especially with Raisel Iglesias headed to free agency. He explains how arbitration “file and trial” works and why hearings happen even over small gaps. Bryce Elder’s projected $4M is worth paying, but he could become a trade chip if Atlanta adds top-rotation help. The episode closes on fringe arbitration decisions: James Karinchak ($1.1M) as a possible non-tender, Joey Wince ($900K) likely to return after a torn ACL, and waiver-claim Michael Grove ($1M) as a low-co...

Lindsay Crosby breaks down why the Braves must find a shortstop and why trades may be more realistic than free agency. He evaluates targets including Elly De La Cruz (elite but likely unavailable and extremely costly), Zach Neto (more plausible with roster flexibility), Jeremy Peña (one-year rental with defensive/plate discipline concerns), and Gunnar Henderson (two years of control but injury questions). He also weighs expensive veteran options like Corey Seager and Trevor Story, plus a suggestion of a Dansby Swanson reunion, while emphasizing Atlanta will need creativity given a thin shortstop market.

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Alex Anthopoulos admits the Braves and Austin Riley still can’t “solve” his decline despite full health in 2026. Lindsay Crosby breaks down Riley’s falling production (OPS, K-rate, xwOBA), shows his bat speed/swing length remain elite, and highlights a massive collapse on borderline “shadow” pitches (-39 run value). With adjustments failing to stick, Atlanta must track process metrics in 2027 and add lineup depth—especially a right-handed bat—so the offense can function without banking on an MVP-level rebound.

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Lindsay Crosby launches a new Friday mailbag for Braves Today, addressing whether Atlanta should trade Ronald Acuña Jr. (not this offseason, but 2027 is a key evaluation point), and explaining why moving him now would be selling low and creating another roster hole. He discusses a public letter from investor Breach Inlet urging a team sale, plus a proposed Section 162 tax change that could raise the Braves’ taxes by roughly $19–20 million compared to private owners. Crosby also covers qualifying-offer and market expectations for Tyler Mahle (ineligible), Mauricio Dubón (likely pricier than fans expect), and Raisel Iglesias (uncertain), outlines free a...

Lindsay Crosby breaks down lessons the Braves can take from the final four teams: the Dodgers’ “October overkill” approach to adding impact pitching, the Brewers’ purposeful patience and better swing decisions, the Rays’ constant roster churn to build depth, and the Guardians’ lineup length to survive when stars slump. He then reviews Braves-related award finalists, including Chris Sale and Martín Pérez in MLBPA voting and Gold Glove finalists Matt Olson, Michael Harris, Sale, and Mauricio Dubón.

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Lindsay Crosby breaks down why the Braves might pursue an early extension for catcher Drake Baldwin, using Alex Anthopoulos’ comments and Baldwin’s elite offensive production at a premium position. With no confirmed talks and team control through 2030, Crosby compares recent catcher extensions (Ruiz, Basallo, Raleigh) and proposes a six-year, $82M deal with a 2033 club option, balancing arbitration values, free-agent buyouts, and cost certainty alongside Sean Murphy’s contract. He outlines the risk/reward for both Baldwin and Atlanta, noting injuries, upside, and the value of acting before a true breakout season removes the discount.

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Lindsay Crosby breaks down the Braves’ frustrating Jurickson Profar situation after Alex Anthopoulos says the team hasn’t decided what comes next. Profar is guaranteed $15 million for 2027, and releasing him won’t erase that obligation. Crosby reviews Profar’s uneven 2025 return (strong plate discipline and power, poor defense, then sports hernia surgery), how Atlanta’s left field production cratered in 2026, and the three paths forward: cut him and eat the money, try to trade him (likely with salary retention or a bad-contract swap), or bring him to camp but make him earn a role while protecting clubhouse culture and roster dep...

Lindsay Crosby breaks down Alex Anthopoulos’ stated need for more consistent on-base production, noting the Braves’ 7.7% walk rate (28th). He evaluates potential additions—especially Seiya Suzuki as a premium, qualifying-offer free agent fit—plus Taylor Ward, Ian Happ, Trent Grisham, and Randy Arozarena with pros/cons on cost, defense, baserunning, and lineup balance. He also touches on second-base/on-base options like Brandon Lowe, warns about Gleyber Torres’ limitations, and discusses J.P. Crawford as an on-base/clubhouse bridge despite defensive concerns, then invites mailbag questions.

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Alex Anthopoulos does not believe the Braves need a teardown. But Atlanta cannot enter 2027 depending on every injured or inconsistent star reaching his best-case outcome. Lindsay Crosby breaks down the rotation uncertainty surrounding Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach, the unresolved Austin Riley problem and what the Braves actually need to accomplish this winter.

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Lindsay Crosby says the Braves’ offseason starts by defining the team’s real problems before roster moves. Atlanta’s offense (97 wRC+, 28th in OBP and walk rate) relied too heavily on solo homers, so the fix is adding on-base/table-setter bats rather than changing core sluggers, with Austin Riley’s post-surgery rebound crucial. Shortstop is unsettled for 2027 with only Jim Jarvis on the depth chart and prospects not ready, making re-signing Kim or Dubón, or a trade, key. The rotation is too fragile and injury-prone to repeat bullpen-heavy October usage, so Atlanta likely needs multiple starter additions beyond internal...

The Braves’ 2026 season ends with a 4–1 Game 4 loss to the Dodgers and a 3–1 NLDS defeat, highlighted by Atlanta’s .145/.259/.242 series line and minimal extra-base production outside Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris. Lindsay Crosby argues the club underachieved based on roster names yet overachieved given injuries and below-average season offense while still winning 94 games and the division. He outlines key offseason evaluations—especially Austin Riley’s post-surgery struggles and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s health/extension outlook—plus concerns about Drake Baldwin, shortstop options with multiple free agents, and rotation depth. Crosby discusses potential moves like re-signing Tyler Mahle, adding multiple starters...

The Atlanta Braves need a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to continue their season, and they're giving trade deadline acquisition Tyler Mahle the ball for game four of the NLDS as they look to stave off elimination. Here is your fifteen-minute scouting report for today's game.

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Chris Sale was hit hard but limited the Dodgers to three runs as Atlanta’s offense managed only one, failing to capitalize on a bases-loaded chance while Yoshinobu Yamamoto dominated over seven innings. LA leads the series 2-1 with more homers, and key Braves bats (Acuña, Olson, Baldwin, Riley) have struggled. Atlanta faces elimination with Glasnow vs Mahle, who has a 16-inning scoreless streak vs the Dodgers, but the Braves must score.

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The Atlanta Braves are back home for game thre of the NLDS with ace Chris Sale on the mound, but he's facing off with fellow ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here is your fifteen-minute scouting report for today's game.

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Walt Weiss explains why the Braves held Chris Sale for Game 3 to avoid two diminished short-rest starts, preserving a chance for a full-strength start now and possible Game 5 relief. Sale praises Atlanta’s calm bullpen, including Ray Kerr and Didier Fuentes, and backs Ronald Acuña Jr. The episode adds context to Atlanta’s postseason offense (top-4 wRC+, high walk rate) despite key struggles, then argues the Game 5 bullpen plan should change by limiting Grant Holmes and Dylan Lee and leaning more on Kerr and Dylan Dodd.

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Atlanta split the first two NLDS games in Los Angeles by winning Game 2 (3–2) with a third straight bullpen game, setting up a best-of-three with home field at Truist Park. Lindsay Crosby explains why Walt Weiss didn’t chase Game 1 from behind and why he chose not to start Chris Sale on regular calendar rest, preferring a fully rested Sale for Game 3. The episode breaks down key bullpen moments (Ray Kerr, Robert Suárez, Didier Fuentes) and Michael Harris’ big night, while stressing Atlanta must get more production from the top of the order to beat the Dodgers.

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The Atlanta Braves don't have ace Chris Sale for a game two start, so Ray Kerr is being asked to reprise his Wild Card opener role against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two. Here is your fifteen-minute scouting report for today's game.

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The Atlanta Braves are ready for a hot and steamy game one of the NLDS, with temperatures of nearly 100° in Los Angeles for first pitch against Tarik Skubal and the Dodgers. Here is your fifteen-minute scouting report for today's game.

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Braves Today host Lindsay Crosby previews Atlanta’s NLDS matchup with the Dodgers, emphasizing LA’s major advantages in rotation depth, lineup health, and preparation time. He breaks down the tough pitching slate (Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow), notes Atlanta’s struggles vs lefties and Lane Thomas’ uncertain status, and explains the Braves’ path: keep games close, capitalize on rare chances, and disrupt LA’s “plan A” with messy, creative bullpen usage and high-leverage intensity Atlanta has practiced through recent must-win games.

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Atlanta beats Philadelphia 6-2 in a winner-take-all Game 3 to advance to the NLDS vs. the Dodgers. Ray Kerr delivers 3.1 shutout innings as an opener, the bullpen holds, and Chris Sale slams the door in relief. Michael Harris’ early homer sparks the offense, with key contributions throughout. The episode also examines looming Phillies roster and contract shakeups.

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