Braves: Alex Anthopoulos on other pieces he would have liked to add at the trade deadline

The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Braves came away with four outfielders and a bullpen arm, patching up their two most glaring weaknesses. It was far from flashy, but it does give the Braves a fighting chance to make up ground over the next two months and win the NL East. Some fans were hoping for blockbusters, but with Ronald Acuna and others set to miss the rest of the season, it made sense for Anthopoulos to focus on smaller moves rather than go all-in for this season. Still, even the Braves GM admits, he would have liked to have done more if it was possible.

In an interview with Dukes and Bell on 92.9 The Game, Anthopoulos said he would have liked to add a true centerfielder. He mentioned Starling Marte specifically, who was eventually traded to Oakland, as the best option available. Of course, Byron Buxton was rumored to be on the block, but he ended up staying with the Twins, so it’s fair to question if Minnesota was ever considering dealing him unless they were blown away with an offer. Anthopoulos also revealed that the Braves were in the market for a starting pitcher as well but that no “clear-cut” upgrades were available at a reasonable cost.

“I would have loved to have found a pure CF. The best one on the market was Starling Marte….that would have been the most clean for us. We were open to a starter if there was a clear-cut upgrade but our guys have been throwing the ball well.” – Alex Antopoulos #forthea

— DukesandBell929 (@DukesandBell929) August 2, 2021

I never saw a need for a starting pitcher. As Anthopoulos stated, the rotation has been throwing the ball great for a few months now, and more help is on the way in the form of Huascar Ynoa and Ian Anderson. The Braves certainly could have made a move for a bigger name to help out their outfield, but with so many question marks, it’s probably best that Anthopoulos chose to hang onto his best prospects. This organization is built for sustained success, and there’s no reason to jeopardize that for a season that may already be a lost cause.