MLB insider: “Braves have another big move in them”

The Braves offseason talk is always comical, because generally, nobody has any idea what they are attempting to accomplish until it is done. They operate like a snake in the grass, and it often times results in conflicting reports, which is what we’ve seen over the last several days at the Winter Meetings.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi has linked Shohei Ohtani to the Braves on several occasions. He’s also referred to Atlanta as “finalists” for Dylan Cease, who is expected to be dealt by the White Sox this offseason.

On the flip side, Braves beat reporter for MLB.com Mark Bowman has said, “The Braves haven’t shown serious interest in free agent Shohei Ohtani, and it doesn’t feel like they should be considered favorites to land White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease via a trade.”

Bowman did follow that up by saying, “But as the first day of the Winter Meetings elapsed on Monday, there was still a sense Atlanta could make at least one more big move.”

It’s easy to say acquiring Shohei Ohtani or Dylan Cease is unlikely. Ohtani is likely to fetch the largest free agent deal in Major League Baseball history. That’s never been an avenue the Braves have pursued in the past.

Dylan Cease makes a lot more sense. He’s from Georgia, the Braves have been in the market for frontline starters this offseason, and he’s under team control for two more years, something Alex Anthopoulos prefers when swinging blockbuster trades. Still, calling a trade for Cease likely would be a little overzealous. He’ll have no shortage of suitors, and the Braves have one of the worst farm systems in baseball. Other interested clubs should be able to match anything Anthopoulos can offer.

One thing has remained abundantly clear, however, since the start of the offseason. The Braves are looking to swing something big, and there could be several moves coming down the pike before the start of the next season.

“One industry insider predicted that even after acquiring Jarred Kelenic from the Mariners and signing Joe Jiménez, Reynaldo López and Pierce Johnson for a combined $70.3 million, the Braves aren’t done,” MLB insider Mark Feinsand writes. 

“The Braves have another big move in them,” the source said via Mark Feinsand, adding that Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos “is lathered up.”

The Braves have been more active this offseason than just about any I can remember in the past. Alex Anthopoulos has been wheeling and dealing, and it doesn’t look like they are close to finished. Expect them to look to shed salary in some places, but eventually, it does feel like there is at least one more big acquisition to come before the start of the 2024 campaign.

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