Shocking Loss and Surprises Ahead: What Terrance Gore’s Passing Means for Braves’ Spring Training and Beyond

As the countdown to Spring Training ticks closer, the Atlanta Braves find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. Despite the excitement and preparation underway, the club still eyes the mound with an unresolved craving—a solid starting pitcher to round out their rotation. Luckily, there’s no shortage of candidates still floating around, with Chris Bassitt and Zac Gallen leading the pack. Time, however, is of the essence; with pitchers and catchers set to report this Monday, any acquisition must be swift to make a meaningful impact on spring drills. Currently, if health holds, names like Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Spencer Strider are practically guaranteed to take the hill. Meanwhile, players such as Grant Holmes and Reynaldo Lopez linger in a limbo of flexibility, juggling roles between the rotation and bullpen amidst their own injury concerns. Then there’s a competitive peloton—Hurston Waldrep, Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Martin Perez—all vying for a more permanent spot. Still, the feeling lingers that one more steadfast arm would bring a much-needed boost of assurance to the mix.

Beyond the diamond, somber news has struck the Braves’ community with the sudden passing of World Series champion Terrance Gore at just 34 years old. His unexpected departure during a medical procedure leaves a deep void. On a lighter note, optimism bubbles in Mark Bowman’s upbeat forecasts for the Braves’ season, painting a promising picture for the team’s potential. Shifting gears to the broader league, the Yankees have locked in Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year, $4 million deal, and the Dodgers have brought on former players David Dahl and Michael Hermosillo to their minor league coaching staff. With rosters largely set, the calm before the storm is settling in as fans and analysts alike wait eagerly for Spring Training to unveil the next chapters of a thrilling MLB season.

LEARN MORE

Well Spring Training is here in only a few days now, but the Braves still have a desire to add a starting pitcher and fortunately there are still some options out there, headlined by Chris Bassitt and Zac Gallen. They’d better get a move on to sign (or trade for) whoever they intend to add if they want to have them for a normal Spring Training, with pitchers (and catchers) reporting on Monday. Right now, Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Spencer Strider are rotation locks if healthy, Grant Holmes and Reynaldo Lopez are flex options for the rotation of bullpen with injury questions of their own, and Hurston Waldrep, Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Martin Perez as legitimate rotation competitors. It would be nice to have one more piece in there with a little more certainty than the incumbent options.

Braves News

Braves’ World Series champion Terrance Gore passed away suddenly at the age of 34 during a procedure.

Mark Bowman wrote up some optimistic predictions for Braves players this season at MLB.com.

MLB News

The Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt to a 1 year $4 million deal.

The Dodgers hired a few former players to their minor league coaching staff, in David Dahl and Michael Hermosillo.

News is light as rosters are mostly finalized and we await the beginning of Spring Training and the news that comes with it.