The Braves were rather quiet while other teams made moves during the trade deadline that came and went. The lone deal that was completed involved Alex Anthopoulos addressing the outfield by getting back together with Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson.
Since Soler is a slasher, the acquisition doesn’t seem to be going to blow everyone away at first.12 home runs and 240/.330/.419 with a.749 OPS. That isn’t very dynamic.
But keep in mind that Eddie Rosario has a.548 OPS, Adam Duvall has a.587 OPS, and Jarred Kelenic has a.683 OPS. Soler is a significant advancement.
Furthermore, there are two factors to take into account while discussing the deal and Soler’s potential impact in Atlanta. First of all, because he is willing to take his walks, he will immediately enhance the Braves offense in the leadoff position. With an 11.2 BB%, Soler has the best mark in Atlanta’s lineup right now.
You can build Soler up all you want, but this trade deadline was disappointing in the end. There aren’t any other options. It doesn’t seem like a lack of effort. The value didn’t make sense, according to Alex Anthopoulos, who told the Atlanta media that he looked into the frontline starting market, particularly for players who could start in the postseason.
A starting pitcher may fetch enormous costs during the deadline and offseason. Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez were two players who Anthopoulos acquired for very little money. If the deal isn’t worth it, the Braves president of baseball operations won’t overpay.
Considering that Max Fried and Lopez have received a clear medical diagnosis, I can appreciate their position. Since injuries are unavoidable, the Braves don’t necessarily need a starter in 2024, but having some insurance wouldn’t hurt. But since there are real rotation concerns in 2025, I believe any frontline starter that AA asked about came with multiple years of control.
I could only envision things going like that. The offense still required the greatest care, therefore it’s unfortunate that the Braves were unable to get another outfield player.
It’s obvious that Alex Anthopoulos is merely attempting to enter the game in the hopes that Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall, Orlando Arcia, Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, and Max Fried will all be available and healthy.
There are lots of prayers and hope.
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