The Atlanta Braves opened Spring Training with some unwelcome news about their young ace. Spencer Schwellenbach has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
The team’s hoping Schwellenbach is dealing with bone spurs rather than something more serious. But for a franchise that saw its playoff hopes derailed by injuries last season, it’s exactly the kind of news they didn’t want to hear.
Schwellenbach’s injury immediately put the spotlight on the remaining free agent starters. The Braves seemed like a natural fit for Chris Bassitt, especially with new pitching coach Jeremy Hefner on board. Hefner worked with Bassitt during their time with the Mets, and the veteran right-hander has a reputation for being great in the clubhouse.
ESPN’s Buster Olney noted the connection, writing: “As Braves assess impact of Schwellenbach’s injury, worth noting that new ATL pitching coach Jeremy Hefner worked with unsigned FA Chris Bassitt when both were with the Mets.”
That connection didn’t matter.
The Baltimore Orioles swooped in and finalized a deal with Bassitt before Atlanta could make their move. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the veteran agreed to a one-year, $18.5 million contract with Baltimore.
“Bassitt, 36, joins an overhauled O’s rotation that also added Shane Baz and re-signed Zach Eflin to join Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers and Dean Kremer,” Passan wrote.
This one hurts for Atlanta. Bassitt was arguably the most reliable starter left on the market – exactly what a team coming off a disappointing season needs. Instead of helping the Braves return to October, he’ll be taking the ball every fifth day in the AL East.
Alex Anthopoulos has to know his team just missed out on a significant arm. With Schwellenbach’s status uncertain and the rotation needing depth, the Braves GM can’t afford to strike out again.
The good news? There are still options available. Lucas Giolito and Zac Gallen remain unsigned, but the market’s moving quickly. Atlanta needs to act fast before those arms find new homes too.
For a franchise that’s made the playoffs four of the last five years, missing out on impact players because of hesitation or budget constraints isn’t an option. The Braves learned that lesson the hard way last season when injuries exposed their lack of depth.
They can’t let it happen again.
