The Angel Perdomo saga continues for Atlanta in inconsequential fashion, for now. Perdomo was claimed off waivers from the Pirates ahead of the non-tender deadline but was then promptly non-tendered; the Braves apparently used the time they controlled his rights to negotiate a potential return with him. The left-hander will miss the 2024 season rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery, so the non-guaranteed split contract is basically just a way to keep him around while his recovery takes place. The Braves made a similar move earlier this offseason with Penn Murfee, who was also claimed on waivers, non-tendered, and brought back on a one-year, non-guaranteed split contract. (As a minor point of amusement, the Braves also went this route with Jackson Stephens, who was bumped off the 40-man roster when the Braves first claimed Perdomo from the Pirates.)

As for Evan White, well, he’s owed at least $17 million over the next two seasons (including a buyout for 2026), so he’ll remain in the organization but not the 40-man roster while drawing his salary.

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The Braves missed a prime opportunity in letting Eduardo Rodriguez slip away

The Braves let one of the few starters that fit their mold the best slip through their fingers.

Entering the offseason, the one thing that has been clear from the beginning is that the Atlanta Braves needed to add a starting pitcher at some point. Max Fried and Spencer Strider are a fine 1/2 punch at the top of the rotation, but the Braves pitching depth was a problem in 2023 and isn’t likely to get better without some addition especially given the moves Atlanta has made this offseason.

No longer can the Braves hope that Kyle Wright or Mike Soroka will get healthy or that Jared Shuster can live up to his draft position. Those guys are gone now. Complicating matters is that Max Fried is entering his last year of team control and it sure doesn’t seem like an extension is coming anytime soon. This is a Braves team that has to get their long-term rotation plans sorted out and soon.

While a lot of the bigger names on the free agent market in terms of starters never felt like great fits for how the Braves operate, there were a couple intriguing options out there. Unfortunately, the Braves were rebuffed by Aaron Nola when he returned to the Phillies, Sonny Gray went to the Cardinals, and now Eduardo Rodriguez is off the market as he signed a four year deal with the Diamondbacks.

Atlanta is running out of starter options now that E-Rod is off the market

While guys like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jordan Montgomery, and Blake Snell are all going to make big money this offseason, Eduardo Rodriguez felt like a guy that could be in the Braves’ wheelhouse. He wasn’t expected to require a nine figure salary to sign and he has been pretty productive on the mound for several years. In 2023, he was one of the best pitchers in the American League in the first half and ended the season with a 3.30 ERA in 26 starts with Detroit.

There are some things that could have scared the Braves off. While decent lefty pitchers are hard to come by, E-Rod has mostly been a back-to-middle of the rotation starter in his career and still managed to get $20 million a year for the next four years. That’s a good bit of money for a guy like that. He also dealt with a finger injury last season and injuries/personal issues cost him a bunch of time during the 2022 season. He was far from a slam dunk.