Why Alex Anthopoulos should not make these trades for the Atlanta Braves at the deadline.
Although some people think he could be pressured into it, Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos may not make a trade deadline deal after all, as he always operates in silence.
The Braves have been the best team in baseball pretty much since Memorial Day weekend. Their June was the stuff of legend. While we still have three more months left in the regular season, we are kind of approaching the territory of Braves or the field when it comes to winning the World Series. Whatever they have, it is working, so let's not mess up something that is already fantastic.
Here is why Anthopoulos should avoid making trades in an attempt to improve this loaded roster.
Atlanta Braves: 3 trades Alex Anthopoulos should avoid making at the deadline
3. The price may be too high to add an arm to the bullpen worthy of trading for
For a while there, the one area where I was totally convinced the Braves needed to make a deal at the deadline would be to address the bullpen. If this team had a weakness, this is probably it. Frankly, the Braves have a better bullpen than many teams far worse than them, but they can get got in the final frames of a ballgame. It really comes down to how healthy they are at the deadline.
To me, it is really contingent on the health of AJ Minter. He is a crucial seventh and eighth-inning guy for the Braves. He has had his ups and downs this season, but he has been instrumental in the Braves' bullpen having had such great success over the last several seasons. Right now, Atlanta cannot afford one more big injury to a relief pitcher like Minter, Raisel Iglesias or even Kirby Yates. Despite Minter being placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday, most indications are that he'll be back by the end of the month. Don't panic, Braves fans.
I would anticipate the trade market to not be as robust as it has been in years past. Atlanta may be running away with the NL East, but so many other teams are very much in the mix for a postseason berth. That, and the fact nobody wants to help the Braves win it all twice in three years, you better believe the market would dictate Atlanta paying a premium for a solid reliever.
Anthopoulos may address the position group, but he needs to be on the lookout for price-gougers.
2. Just allow the starting rotation to get fully healthy than give up on the future
This is the one I'm not really interested in arguing with a wall over. You just gotta have faith, man. Max Fried is going to return in the coming weeks, and maybe we get Kyle Wright back before October? Regardless, Braves Country can trust for Bryce Elder, Charlie Morton and Spencer Strider to deliver for them in the second half like they have all year long for them in the starting rotation.
In time, yes, the Braves will need a proven and reliable fourth starter for October baseball. The good news is Fried is guaranteed to be that guy. Plus, the Braves still have time to see what other pitchers such as Kolby Allard, Michael Soroka and AJ Smith-Shawver can do, too. Simply put, the Braves have plenty of arms to go the distance in October; it's just not all at the big-league level.
The only reason to consider trading for a starter, and what it would cost to give up for one of quality, is if Anthopoulos thinks he can find Morton's long-term successor in the rotation. Chuck shoves, and we love that he shoves, but he's about to be 40. His arm is still incredibly lively and stuff is as good as it has always been. The question is if he wants to keep pitching beyond 2023.
There is little to no reason to deplete a lesser farm system to add a starter that you may not need.
1. No reason whatsoever to mess around with the best lineup in all of baseball
Pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered. There is no reason on god's green earth to mess with the greatest lineup baseball has potentially ever seen. We are talking about a starting nine that rivals the 1995 Cleveland Indians and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. While those teams didn't win the World Series, Atlanta did beat one of them to do it… Regardless, this lineup is absolutely perfect.
Well, six of the nine position players in the Atlanta lineup were National League All-Stars. Michael Harris II is the reigning NL Rookie of the Year in centerfield. Marcell Ozuna is finally living up to his four-year contract extension he signed in Feb. 2021. His improved plate discipline has been tremendous. As for Eddie Rosario, he has the ability to go on the hottest of stretches at the plate.
So what would Anthopoulos be doing anyway here? Trading backup backstop Travis d'Arnaud for a sack of marbles just to get some action, dawg. No, don't be stupid. Heck, I don't even think there is much of a need to address the depth of the bench. This is because, when healthy, the Braves' starters are conditioned to play, and play well every day. It is why they are better than everyone.
Barring injury, there really is no need for Anthopoulos to look to address the best starting lineup.
