The Braves haven’t had many free agents test the market this offseason, but those who did have already found new teams—and A.J. Minter might be next. According to Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox are in on Minter and have held multiple discussions with the star reliever.
First, it was Max Fried, who signed a record-breaking deal with the Yankees. Then, Charlie Morton agreed to a one-year contract with the Orioles. Now, Minter could be the next departure. The hard-throwing lefty has much in common with former Braves standouts like Fried, Freddie Freeman, and Dansby Swanson.
A Texas native, Minter has been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s bullpen. Despite a stint in Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in his career, he has established himself as the Braves’ most dependable reliever.
Since 2020, Minter has been stellar, posting a 2.85 ERA and a 1.086 WHIP, with equally impressive performances in the postseason. Over 20 playoff appearances for Atlanta, he has maintained a 2.88 ERA with 13 strikeouts per nine innings.
This past season, Minter delivered a strong 2.62 ERA, though his strikeout rate dropped to 26.1%, and his FIP climbed to 4.45. Questions remain about whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day, which could impact his free agency market.
MLB Network’s Jon Morosi previously reported during the Winter Meetings that the Braves hope to re-sign Minter. However, they face tough competition, with the Cubs and Rangers also expressing interest.
The Rangers have since signed Chris Martin, possibly taking them out of the mix, but the deep-pocketed Red Sox remain in pursuit. Minter has expressed a desire to stay in Atlanta, and if the bidding doesn’t escalate too high, the Braves stand a good chance of retaining him.
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