Braves predicted to sign $31 million All-Star workhorse after missing out on Framber Valdez originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Atlanta Braves have one of the better rotations in the MLB on paper, but they are also one of the most injury-prone. Framber Valdez could have offered more stability, but with him signing with the Detroit Tigers, the Braves will have to pivot.
Fansided’s Christopher Kline believes that the Braves will go in the route of a journeyman, and sign All-Star Chris Bassitt.
“On the surface, the Atlanta Braves’ rotation is fairly well off. Injuries have become a relentless storyline in Atlanta over the past few years, however, so the Braves know the benefit of depth better than most. Valdez is a classic workhorse, a true innings-eater who takes the mound every fifth game and generally delivers stable results. Chris Bassitt comes with a bit more game-to-game variance at this point in his career, but he should also come on a cheap one-year deal. And durability is Bassitt’s superpower: He has made 30-plus starts and pitched at least 170 innings in four straight years now. Bassitt relies on a bendy slider and swooping curves, along with a deep bank of offspeed offerings, so he should age more gracefully than others in his generation,” Kline wrote.
This past season, Bassitt posted an 11-9 record, a 3.96 ERA, 166 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.327 over 170 innings pitched. He eats innings, wins games, and strikes batters out; all great qualities for a No. 5 starting pitcher.
Currently, he’s projected to receive a two-year, $31 million deal. However, with free agency coming to an end and his market still being cold, the Braves could definitely get him on a one-year deal.
Hopefully, they do, and solidify their rotation with someone reliable.
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