As the Atlanta Braves fight tooth and nail each night to stay in the race, they remarkably hold a 1.5-game lead over the Mets in the NL Wild Card standings. This is despite fielding a lineup that, on paper, looks more like it’s vying for the top draft pick rather than a postseason berth. The team’s success this year has largely hinged on its stellar pitching, which has been among the best in baseball.
However, if the Braves are serious about claiming one of the remaining playoff spots and making a run in October, offensive improvements are a must. The return of injured players may provide a much-needed boost. Jorge Soler is nearing a return to the daily lineup, Ozzie Albies is expected back within weeks, and there’s even a chance Austin Riley could make an appearance if the Braves play deep into October.
These comebacks could inject the offense with enough firepower to make the team competitive, but an even bigger opportunity looms. Despite the trade deadline being long gone, there remains a loophole for teams to bolster their rosters through waivers. Last season demonstrated that teams looking to cut costs after falling out of contention often place key players on waivers, allowing competitors to scoop them up.
The 2023 Los Angeles Angels exemplified this trend. Instead of selling at the trade deadline, the Angels went all in, hoping to entice Shohei Ohtani to stay by acquiring several high-profile players. But when their gamble failed, they slashed payroll by placing stars like Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Matt Moore, Hunter Renfroe, and Randal Grichuk on waivers in late August.
For Braves fans, this development was infuriating last year. Atlanta, holding the best record in baseball, was last in line for waiver claims and missed out on potential difference-makers. Teams like the Braves, fighting for their playoff lives, shouldn’t be able to add key players for free so late in the season, nor should organizations like the Angels be allowed to dump salary and avoid penalties due to mismanagement.
Yet, with the current rules in place, the Braves may have a chance to benefit from this system. While it’s uncertain whether any team will have a fire sale akin to the Angels, a few key players may become available, and Atlanta could certainly use an offensive spark.
Any player added before the August 31st deadline would be eligible for postseason play and might just be the catalyst the Braves need to make a surprising run in October.
Leave a Reply