The Braves have seen their fair share of nightmares, but a new one might be brewing—one that wears a familiar face. Just when Atlanta thought it had its path to dominance paved, A.J. Minter and Juan Soto are lurking, ready to rewrite the script. If history is any indication, this could get ugly… fast. The season has not yet started, and it already looks like the Atlanta Braves are going to pay for their mistakes.
During a podcast with Buster Olney, Jorge Castillo was asked who the biggest divisional threat was, and it was the answer everyone thought of. He said, “I think the Mets, honestly. The Mets have got a lot of momentum. They have got the big signing, obviously, a couple of big signings. A.J. Minter went over there. It is going to be tough to see him in a Mets uniform coming out. I think they’ve really filled the holes that they saw they had last year. Obviously, Juan Soto is one thing.”
Why would the Braves let Minter go is the question all the Braves fans have been asking themselves. He was their star pitcher and was doing well for the team. This can be proved just by turning the stat sheet. Minter had an ERA of just 2.62 with 35 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.02. These numbers as a relief pitcher are exactly what the New York Mets were looking for. They grabbed him as soon as they got the opportunity with a two-year contract that has a player opt-out after the 2025 season.
And Juan Soto is not only a problem to the Braves but to the whole league. He has not let any top pitcher or team go, and the Braves will be no such exception. He already has 19 home runs and 79 hits against the Braves over the 77 times he has faced them.
Atlanta had the pieces, but somehow, they handed one to their biggest threat and left the door wide open for another to keep smashing through. Is A.J. Minter in a Mets jersey? Juan Soto is locked in for another round of destruction? The Braves might still be contenders, but at this rate, they’re also shaping up to be a cautionary tale.
A.J. Minter races against time to make it to Opening Day
A.J. Minter has never been one to back down from a challenge, but this time, the clock is his toughest opponent. The lefty finds himself in a familiar battle—not on the mound, but against the limits of his own body. With expectations sky-high and patience running low, the question isn’t just if he’ll be ready but at what cost.
The 31-year-old is slightly ahead of schedule in his recovery but is not confirmed for Opening Day. For the first time since his operation to fix his hip injury, Minter was seen throwing pitches. Minter’s workload will be limited and will focus on durability. During an interview, he said, “We’re going to be smart about this. If I have to miss a few days or a couple weeks, my goal is to help this team at the end of the season.”
This shows that even the team is looking at long-term results. Minter may be ahead of schedule, but Opening Day waits for no one. The Mets are playing the long game, and so is he—but patience isn’t exactly a relief pitcher’s best trait. If he makes it in time, great. If not, well, at least New York won’t have to wait long to see what they paid for.
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