The Atlanta Braves could use some reinforcements.
While Alex Anthopoulos has done a fantastic job acquiring assets for the future while replacing stars who took their talents elsewhere, just imagine if some of those players had stayed? Just how good would this Atlanta team be now?
Anthopoulos is one of the best front office executives in all of baseball because he knows when to say no. When Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman exceeded their price range -- at least per AA's opinion -- he was not afraid to mix things up. That's exactly what the Braves needed at that point in time, especially as a mid-market team. The Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies extensions were before his time, but Anthopoulos has copied that model time and time again, thus keeping Atlanta baseball stars in the ATL.
This article isn't to point out mistakes -- no, Anthopoulos has made few of those. However, IF the Braves had access to these former players who have since taken their talents elsewhere, they'd be in even better shape for a postseason run.
Braves sure wish Adam Duvall was in their outfield
Duvall had some health issues this season, but when healthy he was as dependable as they come in center field. He can also play either of the corners, which is an area Atlanta lacks depth. Duvall has proven himself with the Braves in the past, in the heat of a pennant race. Were he available today, Anthopoulos wouldn't hesitate to make the call and sign him for the rest of the season.
Duvall to Atlanta was rumored around the trade deadline. A reunion made some sense at the time, especially with the Braves lack of corner outfield options. The emergence of Eddie Rosario and Marcell Ozuna put an end to that, but it's fair to wonder what could have been. Duvall spoke to FanSided's Robert Murray about how easy it was to acclimate to Atlanta's clubhouse in 2021.
"Obviously, I was able to walk right back into the clubhouse. I had been there for three years before that. I stepped in and we didn't skip a beat. The other guys … it just goes to show how important a good clubhouse is. If you bring guys in, it's easier for them to just jump right in and mesh. If you have a bunch of "I" guys, then it's a little tougher. The group we had that year was fantastic. We came back 11 or 12 games from the Mets and won the division and win the World Series. We clicked at the right time and that's really what baseball is all about," Duvall said.
The Braves would welcome that type of energy in a second.
If Dansby Swanson were available, he'd be a nice addition for Braves
This is a no-brainer. While Anthopoulos made the right move in letting Dansby Swanson walk, he would be a slight upgrade over Orlando Arcia at shortstop if made available. Swanson had another standout season with the Chicago Cubs, and is one of the best players at his position in the National League when healthy.
Swanson has struggled of late, which has coincided with the Cubs collapse. There's no secret to that. However, Dansby is an elite defender at his position, and at the very least would contribute on that side of the diamond if still on this Braves roster.
It would be a shame to see Swanson miss the postseason considering his effort this season. However, his recent effort a the plate has been uninspiring at best, and he's not afraid to comment on it.
"Just playing bad. Which I own. Just haven't performed in moments recently. Sucks. It's definitely something I'm frickin working on. Its just not happening," Swanson said. Dansby is mired in a pretty brutal slump, as he is 3 for his last 21 (.143).
If Swanson could play like his old self, he'd be an instant contributor on a Braves team that seems destined for the World Series.
The Braves would sure love Freddie Freeman right about now
Uh, look, Matt Olson has replaced Freddie Freeman and then some. He's cheaper, thanks in large part to Anthopoulos, who locked him up prior to this season. However, Freeman is having a legendary season, and is likely to finish third in NL MVP voting behind Mookie Betts and Ronald Acuña Jr. Freeman has proven worth the investment for the Los Angeles Dodgers, that's for sure.
It's unclear where Freeman would play on this team. Were he with the Braves along with Olson, Freeman could be the DH, which would push Marcell Ozuna out of the lineup. Ozuna has had a nice bounce-back season, but he's no Freeman.
The Dodgers and Braves appear on the path to an NLCS clash, as they have the two best records in the NL. Freeman facing his former team will make for a good storyline, but just imagine what could have been if Anthopoulos had ponied up at the time of the deal.
If the Braves still had Kenley Jansen, there'd be no bullpen questions
Kenley Jansen left the Braves for the Boston Red Sox this past offseason. While Jansen was not elite in Boston by any means, he's still a capable closer with postseason experience. Jansen wasn't floated as a trade option around the deadline for the Sox, with president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom assuming the team would make a run. As it turns out, Boston assumed wrong, and the Sox quickly fell out of the playoff race.
Atlanta lacks pitching depth heading into the playoffs thanks to injuries. It is clearly their biggest weakness, and something the Braves must hope works in their favor. Max Fried and Kyle Wright were out half the season. Charlie Morton won't pitch in the NLDS, most likely.
With that, the bullpen must step up in their absence, though that has not been the case so far. Jansen was frustrated with the Red Sox inaction at the deadline:
"Ten straight years in the playoffs," Jansentold Audacy's Rob Bradford on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast. "Frustrating. Disappointment. All come together. Not happy. To be quite honest for you, I don't know how to play for numbers. I only know how to competing for a championship. That's me just being honest."
With Bloom now gone, perhaps Jansen regrets leaving Atlanta in the first place.
The Braves are thankful they avoided Joc Pederson
The Braves had rumored interest in Joc Pederson at one point, but the outfielder and his pearls took a pretty major step back this season. Pederson hit just .237 on the year, and failed to supply the kind of power and on-base percentage one would hope from the two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion.
Pederson will always be beloved in the ATL. He and his pearls helped bring a World Series title to Atlanta back in 2021, but he struggled this past season and would have been just as disappointing in Braves colors. If anything, matters would have been even worse given the expectations for a player of his stature and fanfare coming in.
Matters went awry in San Francisco for Pederson, as Logan Webb, the team's ace, noted that he was 'tired of losing' after the Giants failed to make the playoffs this season.
"(The Cy Young is) definitely something I would like to do, but to be honest with you, winning is more fun," Webb said, per The Athletic. "If we don't do that, it's kind of a waste. I'm tired. I'm tired of losing. It's not fun. We've got to make some big changes in here to create that winning culture. We want to show up every single year and try to win the whole thing. I mean, I think we're there. I don't know what it is. I'm just sick of losing, to be honest. It's never fun."
Pederson would have preferred a move to Atlanta, given what we know now. But by no means was it the right decision for AA to make.
