ATLANTA – With Opening Day just two weeks away, the Atlanta Braves find themselves in an intriguing position. They’re among the National League’s top contenders, yet a few gaps remain on their roster. While most of their core is intact, injuries and last-minute free-agent opportunities could shake things up before March 27. From potential depth moves at catcher to a veteran bat that could provide much-needed insurance, to complement that of Matt Olsen and the other power hitters, the Braves have decisions to make.Will they stick with their current roster, or will they dip into the still-surprisingly-deep free-agent market? The Braves were dealt an unfortunate blow in spring training when starting catcher Sean Murphy suffered a cracked rib, leaving them suddenly thin at catcher, and James McCann remains one of the best available options. McCann, 34, had a respectable 2024 season with the, hitting .233 with a .667 OPS, numbers that aren’t flashy but solid for a backup catcher. Defensively, McCann still holds value, and with Murphy out for an extended period, a signing could be logical. The Braves reportedly made a run at Yasmani Grandal, but the former All-Star turned them down. That leaves McCann as the best available option unless Atlanta opts for an internal candidate. Given the urgency of Murphy’s injury, expect McCann to sign with the Braves and stick around for the full season.

Potential top Braves’  Baltimore Oriolestrade target is a very popular name before start of 2025 season

All things considered, the Atlanta Braves don’t currently need to make any other moves before the start of the 2025 season. The lineup is pretty much set at this point, all of the rotation spots should be covered even if the exact names are unsettled, and Atlanta has enough viable candidates for the bullpen to make things work at least in the short-term.

However, that doesn’t mean there are not more moves that could be made to improve the roster. Most of preferred names already have new teams, but one name that has been floated repeatedly this offseason for the Braves remains available in starter Dylan Cease. While the Padres actually moving Cease isn’t a given due to San Diego’s own rotation issues and playoff aspiration, the team’s financial issues stemming from their ownership squabble leaves a trade a real possibility.

For those that say the Braves just need to pull the trigger and nab Cease, it is not that simple. According to reporting from the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman, the Padres have received real interest in Cease from at least nine teams around the league which could make a pursuit from Atlanta problematic.

Widespread interest and spring training developments pose real obstacles for a Braves trade for Dylan Cease

On the surface, Cease looks like a great fit for the Braves assuming a reasonable deal can be had. Cease wouldn’t come with any long-term payroll headaches as he is entering his last year of team control which should also suppress San Diego’s asking price as well. It doesn’t hurt that Cease is also a frontline starter talent when he is right and would be a significant upgrade over Atlanta’s other options for that last spot in the rotation.