MLB Mailing Envelope: – MLB Trade Rumors

Welcome to the first mailbox of 2025! In this we find out what the Braves, Red Sox, Cubs and Mariners could do, the future of first basemen Spencer Torkelson AND Pietro Alonsooutfield options for the Astros, various Alex Bregmann destinations and much more.

John asks:

A Braves fan here wondering if the Braves will re-sign AJ Minter?

Bill asks:

With fewer trade picks, who might Atlanta pursue in the pitcher/outfield categories? Or will they rely on young pitching hopes and current outfield options?

Philip asks:

What do you see the Atlanta Braves doing? We need another outfielder, a starting pitcher and 2 relief pitchers. Will we be thrifty or will we focus on quality?

Bruce asks:

Can you predict what the usually unpredictable Alex Anthopolous will acquire to play LF, SS and SP on the 2025 Atlanta Braves?

In trying to guess how the rest of the Braves’ offseason will go, it might be helpful to project their payroll first. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos said payrolls will increase in October.

The Braves’ actions so far this offseason don’t match those of a team looking to increase payroll: down Travis d’ArnaudThe option is dumping Jorge Solermoving money around with Reynaldo Lopez and Aaron Too bad extensions (though not in a way that helps their CBT payroll), Ramon Laureano no-tendering, and most importantly, failing to sign any free agents of note. It’s also true that Anthopoulos’ October comments came before the Braves learned more information about the timing of Ronald Acuna Jr., Spencer StriderAND Joe Jimenez. I could see how this would affect the payroll allocation, but not why it would affect the total payroll.

The Braves appear to currently have a $220 million CBT payroll, and The Athletic’s David O’Brien wrote on Dec. 11 that the Braves “don’t appear inclined to go too far beyond that $241 million.” [luxury tax] That’s after running a $276 million CBT payroll in 2024. Perhaps in his October “payroll is going up” comments, Anthopoulos was threading a needle that the team’s actual Opening Day 26-man payroll will go up , but their CBT payroll won’t. Last year’s effective Opening Day salary was $222 million and the team is currently at $197 million. It’s also likely the team would like to keep the powder dry for mid-season additions.

Given O’Brien’s comment, we probably shouldn’t expect much more than $25 million in additional AAV to be added this offseason. The second tax threshold of $261 million could represent a cap on CBT wages. So how could Anthopoulos improve the team with many big names now off the board?