Thrilling: The Braves are intrigued in free agent starter, The reliever-turned-starter is believed to be seeking a three-year deal

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Braves are among a few teams interested in right-handed starter Seth Lugo.

After seven seasons with the Mets, Lugo, 34, may be a familiar name. While he was almost entirely a reliever in New York, the veteran righty went west to San Diego this past season and made 26 starts.

Lugo posted a 3.57 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 3.76 xFIP, and nearly a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 146 innings. He had one of the best fastballs in the game (97th percentile in value despite ordinary velocity, according to Baseball Savant), but his off-speed pitches were average. Lugo also did a decent job of keeping the ball on the ground, ranking 20th among all starting pitchers with a 45.2% ground ball rate.

The Braves are seemingly active on the free agent starting pitching market. There was heavy reporting the club was in on Aaron Nola before he ultimately returned to Philadelphia, and Sonny Gray made sense on paper. It remains to be seen just how interested Alex Anthopolous is in the unconventional Lugo, but he, like quite a few others, would make sense given how the roster is currently constructed. Heyman noted Lugo is seeking a three-year deal.

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MLB Winter Meetings Recap: Jarred Kelenic Joins the Braves

The Braves and Mariners traded outfielder Jarenic, starting pitcher Marco Gonzales, and first baseman Evan White for pitchers Jackson Kowar and Cole Phillips on Sunday evening, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. For the Mariners, it was primarily a salary dump. Gonzales owes Seattle $12 million in 2024 before exercising his club option for 2025. And White is owed $15 million over the next two seasons after agreeing to a six-year, $24 million contract before making his major league debut in 2020.

Kowar had been added by the Braves in a deal with the Royals for Kyle Wright last month. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 9.12 ERA across 74 career innings. Plagued by walk issues, his days as a starter are likely behind him. There’s a bit more hope for Phillips long-term. The 20-year-old right-hander was a second-round pick in 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. As with most activity out of Seattle, you have to wonder if this move precedes another move the team may have in store. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that the Mariners had engaged the Rays in talks earlier this offseason regarding Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes. In the immediate aftermath, it clears up a spot in the starting rotation for 23-year-old Bryan Woo, who flashed some exciting potential last year, posting a 4.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 93/31 K/BB ratio across 87 2/3 innings. Woo is currently going at pick 196 in early NFBC drafts and will likely gain momentum as we approach spring drafts.

On the Braves side, the team adds a young outfielder in Kelenic while taking on the extra salary. Kelenic has had his ups and downs in the majors and is coming off a season in which he hit .253/.327/.419 with 11 homers and 13 steals across 416 plate appearances. He’ll likely slot into left field, replacing Eddie Rosario. Kelenic has the power to take advantage of the ballpark upgrade and team context in a loaded Atlanta lineup but will need to improve on his 31.7 percent strikeout rate. As for Gonzales, Rosenthal reported Monday that the team intends to trade the 31-year-old left-hander. He posted a 5.22 ERA across 10 starts before undergoing season-ended elbow surgery. Though he should be ready to pitch by Opening Day.

Brewers Sign Jackson Chourio on Busy Monday

The Brewers made a series of moves on Monday, starting with Jackson Chourio’s eight-year, $82 million contract with club options for 2032 and 2033. The club options can make the deal worth up to $142.5 million. It’s the largest deal ever signed by a prospect yet to reach the majors, signaling plenty of confidence in the 19-year-old phenom. Chourio slashed .280/.336/.467 with 22 homers and 47 steals across 559 plate appearances in Double-A last season. He’ll have a chance to win the center field job at just 20 years old come spring training. Chourio is currently being drafted around pick 235 in NFBC drafts. With the contract a sign of reassurance that he’ll see the majors early in 2024, if not Opening Day, that price will only go up.