Projecting Braves Rotation After Cole Hamels Signing
By Chris Russo
Now that the Atlanta Braves have taken a chance on Cole Hamels, filling the Dallas Keuchel role from 2019, it's fairly clear where he fits in to a pretty exceptional rotation puzzle.
The Braves inked the former World Series MVP to a one-year, $18 million deal on Wednesday, continuing their remarkably active offseason.
Keuchel pitched well last year, notching a 3.75 ERA in an abbreviated season, but will likely be replaced in linear fashion by Hamels. The team will also miss Julio Teheran, but plans to replace him with an overload of youth; the depth we'd heard about for so many years materialized in full force in 2019.
Mike Soroka should definitely be the ace of this rotation after a 13-4 campaign and a 2.68 ERA in 2019 at just age 21.
We also know that Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz are locked in for 2020.
Fried's ERA may have been a little high at 4.02, but his 17 wins led the club. Foltynewicz, on the other hand, regressed, making only 21 starts, and going 8-6 with a 4.54 ERA in that shortened time period, though his second-half surge was admirable. If Hamels slots in ahead of Folty, that gives Atlanta an impressive fivesome with a comfortable and confident top two.
There are a plethora of candidates for the fifth spot, of course.
However, things could change, because the Braves could also make a further splash in free agency. Madison Bumgarner simply can't be ruled out yet; after all, this team has been more than willing to spend, redoubling their efforts to three-peat in the NL East over the defending champs.