If the first half of the Braves season was frustrating, the second half hasn’t gotten off to a much better start. Atlanta has dropped three of its first four games, but most notably, both Max Fried and Ozzie Albies have been placed on the IL, with Albies expected to miss most of the remainder of the regular season with a fractured wrist.
It’s been the story of the Braves 2024 campaign — injuries and inconsistencies. As currently constructed, Atlanta doesn’t stand much of a chance come October, if they can even get there, but the looming trade deadline does serve as a beacon of hope. Alex Anthopoulos has been able to work his magic in the past, most notably when he acquired four outfielders at the 2021 trade deadline for not a single prospect worth of note on the way to the club’s first World Series victory since 1995.
If you’re looking for proof of concept to convince you the Braves should be buyers ahead of this year’s trade deadline, there may not be a better example. But it’s also important to note that replicating what happened in 2021 is much easier said than done. That trade deadline will go down as one of the best of all time, and certainly the best in recent memory, as The Athletic noted in a recent piece, ranking it the most impactful trade deadline of the last decade.
Alex Anthopoulos is going to buy, but it’s fair to wonder how aggressive the Braves GM will be. As much as everybody is hungry to return to glory after tasting it just a few years ago, it’s the job of general managers to balance winning now while also keeping an eye on the future. Anthopoulos is under contract through the end of the decade, as is most of the Braves core.
Atlanta’s championship window extends well beyond just this year, and nobody can argue that their chances of winning this season are significantly hindered because of the injuries to Spencer Strider, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Ozzie Albies. Not many teams would even remain competitive after losing their ace, the reigning NL MVP, and one of the best second basemen in the game. Going “all-in” without those guys on the roster does not seem like the best course of action. With that being said, Atlanta does have enough talent to warrant buying, even if it is not of the blockbuster variety.
The Braves still have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball. That alone gives them a chance in any potential playoff series; all it takes is a few offensive pieces getting hot at the right time. There might be a move or two that could potentially help the Braves out now and in the future, but if you’re looking for a blueprint, it’s impossible to ignore the route Alex Anthopoulos took back in 2021.
The Braves made five trades at the deadline that year, none of which required significant prospect capital. Most of them were rentals, and a lot of them had underachieved with their former clubs. It was the perfect example of what Alex Anthopoulos does best, finding value where other clubs fail to look, and he didn’t hesitate to take shots.
That’s probably what should be expected at this year’s trade deadline as well. The Braves aren’t a prospect rich organization. Regardless of the situation, they should be trying to hold onto their top guys unless a deal blows them out of the water, and that’s especially true this year. What the Braves need more than anything is bodies. This is a club that lacks offensive firepower but also depth. Adding four or five new faces to the mix with upside that won’t cost an arm and a leg to acquire and hoping two or three of them can make an impact is probably what’s best for now and the future of the organization.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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