Braves Rumors: Kyle Wright rehab back on track, return nearing
Given the 14.5-game lead in the NL East and having the best record in baseball, you might conclude that the Atlanta Braves haven't missed last season's 21-game winner Kyle Wright. Wright, of course, has not pitched since May 3 when he was put on the IL with a shoulder injury that has kept him there for the entire season. His absence, however, is something the Braves have endured, not something that they've been completely fine without.
As such, the Braves have remained adamant that they would like to do everything in their power and within reason to get Wright onto the postseason roster. With the calendar turning to September, time is starting to run out. But the 27-year-old right-hander is also starting to show signs that his return could be coming quite soon.
On Tuesday, Wright made his third rehab start and second appearance with Triple-A Gwinnett. After getting shelled for three runs in 1.2 innings in the first outing, Braves fans saw the hurler look much more akin to the dominant force he was on the mound last season, going 3.2 innings allowing just one hit, two walks and no runs for the Stripers.
Wright was limited to 50 pitches in the outing before he was pulled. As such, he's not ready to get the call-up to Atlanta just yet. Having said that, the plan appears to be for him to increase his workload in a rehab start early next week. Should that go well, then the Braves could look to get him to the big-league club and get some work a few weeks prior to the start of the playoffs.
The Braves have struggled mightily throughout the season to fill the fifth starter role and Wright would help with that down the home stretch. Even better, the club's success this season gives them the ability to have a soft runway for Wright when he does return to the big-league roster. Time is running out, though, and hopes are that Tuesday's rehab start is a sign that he's almost ready to come back.
Braves Rumors: Michael Soroka concern resurfaces with move to IL
For the past couple of years, Braves fans have been wishful that Michael Soroka, who was an All-Star essentially right away in his MLB career, could return to the mound and to that form. Unfortunately, he's been inconsistent at best in his big-league return this season. And now the bad news is back for the young righty.
After getting shelled and lasting just three innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday night, Soroka was moved to the IL with numbness in his fingers and what the team called "right forearm tightness" in the official transaction. Braves manager Brian Snitker was asked after the game if the move was only precautionary and, instead, retorted that this could be something more substantial. "I think it's probably a big deal," Snitker said, via Braves Today.
Soroka missed two full seasons and the majority of three with back-to-back Achilles tears that resulted in a long, arduous recovery to get back to the big-league roster. He struggled to cement his place back in the Braves rotation but was clearly still working toward that. Now, he's got another injury wherein Atlanta doesn't seem to know the cause, which is always concerning.
On top of that, it's even worse for the Braves' future with Soroka as he'll accrue big-league service time with the move to the IL, taking another year of team control away on his contract. The two sides will likely settle on a deal in arbitration, but for a player trying to make a comeback, that's another bad break.
Everyone in Braves Country is surely rooting for Soroka to stay healthy and get back. But with the uncertainty of this latest injury also shrouded with him just getting even close to returning as a full-time Braves starter, the outlook appears bleak for even the start of 2024.
Braves Rumors: Cody Bellinger to Atlanta buzz in free agency
When talking about the possibilities for the Braves in free agency this offseason, the top priority is often considered to be pitching. That's sensible. Charlie Morton could conceivably retire after the 2023 season (he also has a $20 million club option), the Braves have yet to sign Max Fried to an extension, and the depth of the rotation was already tested this season.
So with players like Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, potentially Eduardo Rodriguez and Marcus Stroman, and several others on track to hit free agency this offseason, spending big on a starter would make sense. There is also the dream of signing Josh Hader to complete one of the best bullpens in baseball. All of these moves would further solidify Atlanta's status as a perennial contender.
But what if this lineup that's already lethal were to add a former MVP to it and upgrade one of the most inconsistent positions?
Chase Irle of SportsTalkATL recently broke down the top free agents that the Braves could pursue this offseason and listed Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger as a possibility. The impetus is that Eddie Rosario has just a $9 million club option for the 2024 season but has been frustratingly hot-and-cold this season. Thus, Alex Anthopoulos, should he be inclined to spend big in free agency, could swing for the fences to upgrade from Rosario.
Bellinger is in the midst of a career resurgence in Chicago, leading the Cubs in batting average (.319), home runs (23), RBI (84) and OPS (.933) among qualified players. After looking sub-average in his final few years with the Dodgers, he's returned to All-Star-caliber performance.
As Irle noted, though, he might be a bit too risky for the Braves, even beyond just the hefty price tag. For one, Atlanta doesn't need to upgrade in left field, even if it's conceivable that they could. On top of that, though, Bellinger is the best outfielder on the free agency market, but that substantial payday coming his way will take on the risk that he'll maintain his 2023 form and not regress, which is a tough bet to make.
Because of that, I have a hard time believing that Anthopoulos, with as stringent as he's been in terms of spending, would incur that type of risk. Having said that, it's still probably a good idea to keep a Braves-Bellinger match on your radar -- you know, just in case.
