When the Philadelphia Phillies left this year's Winter Meetings without new co-ace Garrett Crochet atop their starting rotation, it was understandable that fans of the club were left unimpressed. Fortunately, they didn't leave fully empty-handed, as Jordan Romano, likely their 2025 closer, joined the organization on a one-year contract.
The fact that the Phillies left with only Romano was a disappointment, but how do you think followers of the division rival Atlanta Braves feel? This past season the Braves were dethroned in the NL East by these Phillies, but their club is just about as talented as any other in the league. That's not to say that there aren't needs around their roster they need to fill this offseason, though.
The Phillies landed Romano, the Washington Nationals secured the first-overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Marlins turned Jake Burger into three prospects and the Mets signed that Juan Soto guy to a record-shattering contract.
The Braves did nothing.
Phillies' arch rivals leave Winter Meetings with absolutely nothing
Entering the Winter Meetings, Atlanta had their sights on some help around their rotation, and they were aiming high. Crochet, Nathan Eovaldi and now ex-Brave Max Fried were all on their to-do list, but they came away with none of them. Crochet was dealt to the Red Sox, Eovaldi re-signed with the Rangers and the Braves had no choice but to watch Fried choose the Yankees over them.
With Ronald Acuna Jr. expected to open the 2025 campaign on the shelf, the Braves have a rather obvious need in their outfield, too. Teoscar Hernandez, Jurickson Profar, Alex Verdugo, Anthony Santander and even old friend Austin Hays are all still available on the open market, but the Braves chose to sit on their hands while everyone else in the NL East ran circles around them.
Phillies fans have got to be elated watching the Big Bad Braves miss out on every single one of their top targets. Philadelphia is coming off of a division-winning performance and they have the roster already to go back-to-back. Atlanta's playing the catch-up game, but their silent Winter Meetings and quiet offseason as a whole to date does not bode well for their 2025 outcome being much different than this past year's.