One of the Braves’ most loyal media members believes there is no way the Braves will sign Trevor Bauer.
An MRI over the weekend revealed a torn UCL in Spencer Strider’s pitching elbow, and the Braves ace could miss extra time.
Nevertheless, The Athletic’s Braves beat writer Dave O’Brien appeared on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta on Monday morning. Explained why the team is not considering adding an outside starting pitcher..
“No, that’s why they have so much depth,” O’Brien said.
“Everyone immediately says, ‘You know they’re going to be on the market,’ as if a great pitcher is going to be on the market in April. That’s not the case.
“Nobody lets their best pitcher go, and that’s what you need to do. Get a pitcher unless he’s clearly better than the pitcher you’re waiting on and has a player competing for the No. 5 spot. You won’t be able to do that.”
O’Brien said that depth includes Wasker Ynoa, Ian Anderson, Hurston Waldrep, Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Schober, and that pitchers who are “marginal to so-so” (generally speaking in April) He said acquiring a pitcher (the type available) would be an “absolute” hurdle for pitchers. their development.
Bauer, the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner, is ostensibly better than “marginal,” but O’Brien believed the Braves had “zero chance” of acquiring him. .
“And don’t even mention Trevor Bauer,” O’Brien said, and the host laughed. “I don’t want to talk about Trevor Bauer.”
Bauer has been out of MLB since 2021 after being accused of assaulting and sexually assaulting a woman.
Bauer argued that the rough sex was consensual and that he was not charged with any crime.
“The Braves vet players, obviously on top of talent, character, clubhouse, all of those things are top priorities for the Braves, more than most other teams I know,” O’Brien said. he said in a radio spot on Monday.
“They always talk about clubhouse chemistry and how much scrutiny they have on players, backgrounds and clubhouse reputations. When they vet Trevor Bauer, they’ll say, ‘Look, everyone’s in the club. I guess they’re trying to tell me, “Get this guy in the house, he’s a great player, he’s the teammate they want.” no. “
According to the newspaper’s Jon Heyman, Bauer recently signed a five-game contract with Mexico City’s Diablo Rojos, which includes a clause that allows him to leave the contract if he joins an MLB team. It is said that there is.
