Alex Anthopoulos declined to name Bryce Elder as the #5 starter

Anthopoulos, appearing on a Georgia radio show, says there will be an open competition for the fifth spot in spring training

Alex Anthopoulos, in his first direct comments about the back end of the Atlanta Braves rotation for 2024, has declared a position battle for the 5th starter's spot. 

Atlanta's president of baseball operations, speaking to Sports Radio 92.1 FM, discussed the rotation and who was a lock...and who wasn't. 

"It’ll be open competition for the fifth spot."

Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and newly-acquired (and extended) Chris Sale were named as rotation "locks" last weekend by Anthopoulos, in comments to media after the trade was official. 

But Anthopoulos declined to commit to righthander Bryce Elder, a 2023 All-Star who faltered down the stretch last season, declaring that the spot would be decided in Grapefruit League action. 

Elder, 24, put up a 2.97 ERA in 106 innings (18 starts) prior to the All-Star Break, being named to his first All-Star team in his first full major league season. But in a nod to that inexperience and a career-high workload, Elder stumbled down the stretch, putting up a 5.11 ERA in 13 starts covering only 68.2 innings. 

Should Atlanta consider a six man rotation?

No, in his radio appearance, Anthopoulos specifically named five different players who could be in contention for that 5th starter's spot: Elder, free agent signing Reynaldo López, returning Huascar Ynoa (Tommy John surgery), and prospects AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep. 

Its similar to the dynamic of last season, where Atlanta's 5th rotation spot came down to LHP Dylan Dodd and RHP Jared Shuster out of spring training. Elder was actually the Opening Day starter for AAA Gwinnett before being elevated to the major league roster and functioning as the de-facto #2 pitcher at times. 

One thing's for sure, though: Atlanta's got rotation depth now. And hopefully, it's not needed as heavily as it was last season, when injuries to Max Fried and Kyle Wright, among others, caused Atlanta to go through sixteen different starting pitching options in the 162 games of the regular season.

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