3 Moves the Braves Need to Make Before the 2022 MLB Season Starts

The Atlanta Braves exceeded all expectations last season when they rode momentum to the franchise's first World Series title since 1995. Their hopes of going back-to-back aren't farfetched by any means, but making sure the roster is ready to go by Opening Day is of the utmost importance.

Atlanta shocked the MLB world with a trade for stud first baseman Matt Olson, while effectively ending Freddie Freeman's long tenure with the franchise.

Manager Brian Snitker has been running the ship for six years now and knows what has to be done to improve Atlanta's chances before the calendar turns to April. With that being said, here are three moves the Braves should still make before the 2022 MLB season starts.

Braves Offseason Moves

1. Re-Sign Outfielder Eddie Rosario

This comes down to Atlanta's lack of depth more than anything. The fact that Guillermo Heredia is projected to take on a starting role in the outfield right now truly speaks to how much the Braves need to sign another slugging outfielder. Re-signing Eddie Rosario would not only fill a need, but it would also excite a fan base that fell in love with him during the playoffs. The 30-year-old proved he still has some solid years left in him by slashing .271/.330/.573 to go along with 7 home runs and 16 RBI in 33 games played with Atlanta in 2021. There's little downside here.

2. Bolster the Bullpen With Veteran Free Agent

It's never a bad idea to keep adding established veterans to the bullpen wherever there is room. Atlanta's bullpen unit tied for 10th in ERA last season (3.97), yet it only ranked No. 26 in the majors when it came to total strikeouts (574). Without Richard Rodriguez or Josh Tomlin under contract in 2022, it has become vital for the Braves to find someone capable of getting outs late in games. A few names that stick out in the free agent pool include Archie Bradley, Mychal Givens and Hansel Robles. There's no shortage of affordable options that Atlanta should be open to signing before Opening Day.

3. Prepare Drew Waters for Everyday Role

Rosario, Joc Pederson and Jorge Soler are all testing the free agent market this offseason and it leaves top outfield prospect Drew Waters in a position to step up. The 23-year-old spent the entire 2021 season with the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers and finished with a slash line of .240/.329/.381. Waters also showed off his speed by scoring 70 runs and stealing 28 bases. Atlanta has to be careful here, though. It's never easy to throw a young kid right into an everyday role at the major league level. Taking the time to work through his weaknesses at spring training could go a long way in preparing him for the next stage of his development.

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.