The Atlanta Braves made a lot of noise during the opening weeks of the offseason. However, they have been quiet over the last month or so.
What's next for Atlanta, which dealt with dozens of injuries to crucial players in 2025, including right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr.?
The Braves are left-handed heavy with Jurickson Profar and Michael Harris II in the outfield. They don't need to find a replacement for either player, but maybe someone for the bench who can impact the lineup.
ESPN's Bradford Doolittle noted that free agent Harrison Bader could be enticing for the Braves.
Bader or Eli White?
Thirty-one-year-old outfielder Eli White had the best year of his six-year Major League career with the Braves in 2025, hitting 10 home runs with 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts in 105 games.
White is a great defensive outfielder, but so is Bader, who offers more veteran presence. He had a career year last season, hitting.277/.347/.449 with an 117 OPS+ and a career high 17 home runs with the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies.
"The Braves could use a righty-hitting, athletic outfielder to complete the puzzle," Doolittle wrote. "Harrison Bader would fit if Atlanta is willing to go even deeper into competitive balance tax (CBT) territory, but the Braves could use another starting pitcher as well. If it's a choice between one or the other, the pitcher probably takes precedence. But why not both?"
Bader will cost the Braves a few extra dollars, but he may be an investment worth taking to create more insurance for Acuna in the outfield.
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