Another Anthopoulos addition is a gem for the Atlanta Braves

Gold may have struck again for Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos. This time, it could come in the form of a free agent pitcher signing. This past offseason saw some big-name starting pitchers hit free agency, including Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Atlanta even entered the Aaron Nola sweepstakes, which Braves fans would have loved to see. Nola has taken care of business in the playoffs against the Braves the past two seasons. This signing was intriguing, however, as Reynaldo López was the one chosen to attend spring training with a chance to become the Braves’ fifth starter. Many fans thought since López hadn’t been a starter in five years, would this really work? After making his 11th start, it appears López has successfully transitioned from reliever to starter.

Reynaldo López now sports a 1.85 ERA in his first 11 starts in a Braves uniform. His FIP is 3:00. This guy is good.

– Bean Eater Buzz (@BeaneaterB) June 7, 2024

A bargain signing for the Atlanta Braves

Reynaldo López signed early in the offseason, signing a three-year, $30 million deal in November. He is listed for $4 million in 2024, $11 million in 2025 and 2026, and also has an $8 million club option in 2027. Typically, starting pitching gets more expensive each offseason, as we have seen many starting pitchers sign for $20 million and above. this offseason. Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed for $27 million per year without even throwing a pitch in MLB, showing the demand for front-line starters. With Atlanta already boasting a top-10 payroll, López’s contract helps Atlanta avoid the next luxury tax bracket, while filling a significant need and checking a big box for Alex Anthopoulos.

Reynaldo Lopez in numbers

López’s contract is really starting to turn into a real deal after 11 starts this season. López leads the Braves with a 1.85 ERA, which also ranks second in the National League and third in all of MLB. He is second to Ranger Suarez of the Philadelphia Phillies in the Netherlands. He is behind Suarez and Luis Gil of the New York Yankees in all of MLB. He holds opponents to a .212 batting average with 62 strikeouts, maintaining a strikeout percentage of 24.8%. López also did a good job keeping hitters off the basepaths with a WHIP of 1.09. His 8.4% walk percentage ranks him 20th in the league among qualified starters. He also tallied a total of 2.2 WAR, which ranks 10th among all pitchers so far this season. Reynaldo Lopez also did well to keep the ball in the right direction. He allowed just one home run in May. Keeping the bases clean and limiting home runs is a recipe for success.

What’s left to see with Lopez

A big question remains for Reynaldo Lopez: How will the Braves handle his innings? He has not been a starter since the 2019 season, when he pitched 184 innings and 188 innings in 2018. In 2020, he moved to the Chicago White Sox bullpen during the shortened season. In 2021, he has thrown 57.2 innings, 65.1 innings in 2022 and 66 innings in 2023. Already at 63.1 innings in 2024, he is on pace to surpass those numbers in his next 12th start on June 12 against the Baltimore Orioles. Atlanta has already started trying to space six days between each start instead of the traditional five days. However, Alex Anthopoulos said during spring training that the Braves don’t believe in innings limits. The question remains whether he will be able to continue what he is doing with all the workload of a season. He’s done it before, but it’s been a few years.

This will definitely be something the Braves need to monitor as the season continues. However, Lopez is really stepping up as the Braves go through their season without Spencer Strider. At the rate Lopez is throwing, he will most likely be an All-Star for the first time in the 30-year-old’s career. If he can make it through the season without burning out, he will be one of the best signings of the offseason.