Last offseason, the Braves made a blockbuster trade for Chris Sale right before the new year, but much of the Hot Stove was barely simmering.
Some of that has to do with Scott Boras, who represented four of the biggest free agents in last year’s class. Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman and JD Martinez were unsigned going into March, with Cody Bellinger signing just before then.
Thankfully, that isn’t expected to be the case this year, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“But in conversations and interviews with general managers, executives and agents the past week,” Nightengale writes. “They are boldly predicting that the hot stove is about to become enflamed after Thanksgiving, with a flurry of trades, and marquee free agent signings filling the days and nights at the annual baseball winter meetings beginning Dec. 8 in Dallas.”
“It’s not going to be like a year ago when the winter meetings were an embarrassment,” one prominent agent said to Nightengale. “Nothing happened… This year is different. Everyone is much more aggressive, or at least they’re acting like it.”
The Braves have a lot to do this offseason. The outfield, rotation, and bullpen will be bolstered in some capacity. Ken Rosenthal expects Alex Anthopoulos to be active in the pitching market early while being a little more passive when it comes to outfielders and other areas of need.
Braves Country has become used to at least one blockbuster trade each November and December, with Chris Sale coming from Boston last year, Sean Murphy from Oakland the year prior, and Matt Olson the offseason following the World Series championship.
The Hot Stove should heat up anytime with the Winter’s Meetings approaching.
—
Photographer: John Cordes/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.