Atlanta, GA
All-Star Pitcher Set for Free Agency, Realistic Option for Braves?
The Atlanta Braves have another option on the free-agent market. In a surprise decision, the Chicago Cubs and starting pitcher Shota Imanaga both opted to reject options on his contract. The Cubs chose not to exercise his three-year option, and he declined his option for next year.
Starting pitching is a key need for the Braves this offseason, and Imanage could be a splash edition.
Welcome to Atlanta Braves on SI‘s offseason series, “Realistic Option for Braves?” where we evaluate if a free agent could realistically choose Atlanta this winter. To see the previous edition discussing Ryan O’Hearn, click here.
Imanaga shot onto the scene during the 2024 season. He pitched three scoreless outings to get his career starts en route to an All-Star nod. He finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting and fifth in NL Cy Young voting.
He didn’t have quite the follow-up, but he still had a 3.73 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP in 25 starts this season. Imanaga saw his strikeout rate drop, and his home runs allowed increased over fewer innings. Overall, he’s been a solid rotation arm in the two seasons he’s been in MLB. From the perspective of a quality addition, Imanaga is exactly that.
While there is plenty of upside to his addition, there are some downsides. A major one is health, and that should be a major sticking point for the Braves when evaluating additions. He missed time with a left hamstring injury. Ultimately, it cost him four starts and about 30 innings compared to the previous season.
It should be noted that this is his only stint on the injured list so far. Otherwise, he’s been fine in that regard. So, unless there is a worry that this could become a lingering issue, this shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
His contract could be. Spotrac projects his value to be around $30.4 million for four years ($121.6 million. It’s hard to see the Braves handing that contract to a 32-year-old pitcher. It would make him the highest-paid player on the team. They very well could, but that’s what makes it more unlikely than anything.
When they have to figure out other holes, such as shortstop, designated hitter and closer, that’s going to make a single contract that large tough. If they could get a deal done that is closer to $22 million, that might change things.
What does help is that he’s not a Scott Boras client. That could incline the Braves to go the route of pursuing Imanaga compared to other starting pitching options.
Much of this will come down to the Braves willingness to spend compared to last offseason more than anything. If they are, Imanaga can be ruled as a realistic option for the Braves to bolster the rotation. It’s far from a guarantee, but he’s a realistic addition.
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Atlanta, GA
2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say
Two suspects in a shooting that left a 7-year-old Atlanta girl dead and her mother injured are now in custody nearly a week after the violence, police say.
The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a home on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW.
Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between one of the victim’s family members and the gunman over the phone. Thirty minutes after the argument, the suspect came back and fired shots into the home, police said.
Officers responding to the scene found a 44-year-old woman and her daughter, identified as 7-year-old Zoe Price, shot. Medics rushed the pair to a local hospital, but Price died from her injuries.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department’s homicide unit secured an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Preston Smith two days after the shooting. Smith turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on March 2.
Schierbaum said officers executed a search warrant on Feb. 27 at a home on McDaniel Street. On that day, 17-year-old Steven Richardson, who police described as an “accomplice,” turned himself in to authorities.
Both men are charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, three counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and four counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Richardson is also charged with possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 18.
At a press conference to announce the arrests, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described Price as a bright and compassionate little girl who was “full of energy and full of joy.”
“Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence, and that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends,” Dickens said.
The mayor called the arrests “a step forward towards justice” for Price’s family and families across the city.
Dickens said that violence, like the act that took Price’s life, would not be tolerated in Atlanta.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More
On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.
Atlanta, GA
Luke Kornet calls on Atlanta Hawks to cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ promo
2026 NBA All-Star Game marks major positive step forward
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game takes a major positive step forward with real competition led by Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and rising stars.
An NBA player from an opposing team has called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their upcoming game promotion that revolves around celebrating a well-known local gentleman’s club.
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet asked the Hawks to reconsider their “Magic City Monday” plans for a March 16 game against the Orlando Magic in a letter posted to Medium on Monday, March 2. Atlanta’s ownership group and front office recently touted the one-night collaboration as an ode to an “iconic cultural institution,” citing Magic City’s role and impact in Atlanta’s Black communities and hip-hop culture in the announcement.
But Kornet wrote that “the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’ “
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet continued. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.
“Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
Magic City Kitchen is also slated to serve two versions of its “world famous” lemon pepper wings – Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ – at the March 16 game. The flavor is named after three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year-winner, Lou Williams. Rapper T.I. is scheduled to perform at halftime and limited edition Magic City merchandise will be available to purchase at the game.
Magic City celebrated 40 years with a five-part STARZ docuseries, ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ that was produced by Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz and Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri. Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney and T.I. are scheduled to record a live podcast from inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena before the game.
Kornet, 30, hopes the Hawks and NBA officials listen to him instead.
“I’d like to encourage the league, its owners, employees and fans to hold the Atlanta Hawks to a higher standard of what they find worthy of promoting,” Kornet wrote. “I and others throughout the league were surprised by and object to the Hawks’ decision. We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
Luke Kornet stats
Kornet is averaging a career-best 7.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in his first season with the Spurs. This is the sixth team he’s played for in his nine NBA seasons, with his previous four years spent on the Boston Celtics.
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