The Dodgers are allegedly still interested in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is expected to make a decision soon. In 2024, Los Angeles will be unstoppable if they are able to acquire a second Japanese superstar during the offseason. But how do they compare to the Braves right now? The Braves won 104 games last year, which is the most in Major League Baseball. They are also returning nearly their whole roster with a few upgrades.
The Braves’ projected best record in baseball by FanGraphs remains unchanged, even after acquiring Glasnow and Ohtani. The margin of error is rather large.
The Dodgers’ top half of the lineup resembles an All-Star squad, similar to the Braves’, but the bottom half isn’t quite up to scratch just yet. While the Dodgers’ pitching staff is currently their biggest concern, it wouldn’t be shocking if they made additional moves to bolster their offense before the season.
Even though Yoshinobu Yamamoto would put Walker Buehler’s mind at ease, he is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. No one can predict how Glasnow will appear upon his return. Despite his greatness when healthy, he has only started more than 20 games once in his eight years in Major League Baseball. A lot of inexperienced players make up the rest of the Los Angeles roster right now.
Nobody can go all-in like the Dodgers, especially when the top player in the game is willing to play for less money to help the team, so I expect the team to keep adding players. In contrast, the Braves’ roster was pretty much set going into the offseason. They have already upgraded the majority of their holes, and there were surprisingly few.
Before the season begins, the Braves might bring in a new starting pitcher. Alex Anthopoulos will not react hastily in light of current events in the league, even though this is the last remaining area that could be improved. As it stands, he is confident in his roster’s ability to challenge for the World Series.