Atlanta Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos
Trade season is a challenging period for Major League Baseball general managers, but few navigate it with the skill and flair of Alex Anthopoulos. Braves fans witnessed his brilliance firsthand in 2021 when he acquired the NLCS MVP, World Series MVP, and two other crucial outfielders to offset the season-ending injury of star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Achieving such a feat is nearly impossible to replicate, but there’s every reason to believe Anthopoulos will once again enhance the Braves’ roster ahead of this year’s trade deadline, especially following Acuña’s unfortunate ACL tear in May.
An article by The Athletic on Thursday highlighted why the former Blue Jays and current Braves GM is considered one of the best in the business. The key to a GM’s success lies in balancing immediate success with long-term planning, a principle Anthopoulos demonstrated with Toronto in 2015, which led to an ALCS appearance.
In a section titled “The Balance of Going All In,” The Athletic recounted how, two years before joining the Braves, Anthopoulos adeptly managed the international bonus pool to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. while simultaneously bolstering the Blue Jays’ roster. He made aggressive moves, trading for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, ace pitcher David Price, outfielder Ben Revere, and reliever Mark Lowe. Despite his “all-in” approach in the buyer’s market, he preserved the farm system’s integrity, ensuring the Guerrero signing was still viable.
Reports revealed that the Royals had offered the Blue Jays a trade for one of MLB’s top closers at the time, Greg Holland, in exchange for reliever Roberto Osuna and second baseman Devon Travis. Anthopoulos declined, as he did with several other offers that demanded top prospects. He also refrained from pursuing two top starters and A’s infielder Ben Zobrist, prioritizing the team’s future plans over immediate gains.
In the end, Anthopoulos addressed all critical areas of the team: securing a top-line starter, an all-star infielder, an outfielder, and a key reliever. He parted with only three pitching prospects to assemble this impressive haul, while still acquiring the 16-year-old Guerrero.
Today, Guerrero is a fan favorite and a significant figure in baseball, boasting a Silver Slugger, a Gold Glove, three all-star appearances, and a 2023 Home Run Derby title. Anthopoulos’ foresight not only brought one of the biggest stars in recent franchise history to Toronto but also helped the Blue Jays reach their only two ALCS appearances since their back-to-back World Series wins in 1992-93 before he transitioned to the Braves.
Anthopoulos has expressed a commitment to being active at this year’s trade deadline, and his strategic acumen in 2015 provides ample reason for Braves fans to trust his words.
