The Atlanta Braves have a history of pulling off MLB trade deadline magic | Bill Shanks
Over the last 30 years, we’ve seen first-hand the impact of in-season baseball trades. The Atlanta Braves, perhaps more than any other team in baseball, have benefitted from the addition of players who can help in the stretch run toward October.
Just in the last two weeks, one of those deals was celebrated for its 30th anniversary. The Braves needed more power in the lineup back in 1993, and the Padres made Fred McGriff available. Somehow, someway Atlanta general manager got McGriff without giving up top prospect Ryan Klesko. Instead, Melvin Nieves, Donnie Elliott, and Vince Moore were swapped for a player who would help the Braves (albeit two years later) win a World Series.
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Nieves, Elliott and Moore were all flops. That’s the gamble of trading star players for prospects. McGriff went on to have a Hall of Fame career. Sometimes it works out for both teams, while sometimes it doesn’t.
Go back six years earlier to 1987. The Braves were rebuilding, while the Detroit Tigers were trying to get to the playoffs. It was a bit tougher back then, as teams had to win their division. The Braves sent veteran starter Doyle Alexander to the Tigers for a young pitching prospect named John Smoltz. Sources say he had a pretty good career in Atlanta.
While that looks lopsided, the trade worked out for Detroit, too. Alexander helped the Tigers win the division that season. So, unlike the McGriff trade, the deal did work out for both teams.
By the time you read this column, Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos may have already pulled off another trade to help his team. He works sort of fast, as you may know, evidenced by his trade last Monday to get Colorado reliever Pierce Johnson.
Tuesday is trade deadline day. By 6 p.m., deals must be in place for players to be eligible for the postseason. And with his success two years ago, MLB could rename it as “Alex Anthopoulos Day.”
The Braves would not have won the World Series without the unbelievable work of Anthopoulos between the All-Star Game and the 2021 trade deadline. He made six trades in a two-week span. Hours before the deadline on the last day, Anthopoulos made four deals. He got outfielders Adam Duvall, Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler and reliever Richard Rodriguez.
On that day, July 30, 2021, the Braves were still five games out of first place. The moves were made to try and get into the postseason. It worked, and then some, as even without Ronald Acuna, Jr, and Marcell Ozuna, the Braves caught the New York Mets and won it all.
This year is a different story. The Braves have been in first place for all but one day all year, and that was after the third game of the season. This team is rolling along with the best record in baseball, and we are only a few weeks away from seriously wondering about the magic number for the Braves to clinch their sixth straight division title.
Anthopoulos is simply preparing for October. What does his team need to ensure it will do something special in the playoffs. Having the best record in the regular season guarantees nothing. We’ve seen many stacked teams (the Dodgers last year, for example) fail in October. It’s about being hot at the right time and making sure the roster is as prepared as possible for anything that could happen.
Last year, Spencer Strider had an oblique issue, while Max Fried got sick and lost a lot of weight. Now to credit the Phillies, they got hot at the right time and rode that all the way to the World Series. But would the Braves have had a better shot if Strider and Fried had been completely healthy? Probably so.
Fried has been out this season since May 5 with elbow trouble. He made his likely last rehab start Saturday in Jacksonville, and he seems ready to return. But getting Fried back is only half the battle. How will Fried be once he returns to the Atlanta rotation? Will he be back to normal by October and thrive as he did two years ago? Can Fried stay healthy?
That is one question that may lead Anthopoulos to get another starting pitcher. Meanwhile, you can never have too many relievers, and it would almost be a shock if Anthopoulos does not get another one before Tuesday afternoon’s deadline.
The Atlanta offense? Well, it’s averaging 5.69 runs per game this season. Last year, the Braves scored 4.87 runs per game. It’s hard to imagine it really needs much help. As long as these guys stay healthy, and can get hot at the right time, the Braves will score in October.
Anthopoulos has to wonder about adding new pieces to a cohesive clubhouse. It’s obvious these guys get along, and that’s had to help define why this has been a special season thus far.
But there should be a trust value here with Anthopoulos. He’s earned that with what he’s done since he took over six years ago. His team is about to win its sixth straight division title with him in charge, so there should be a confidence Anthopoulos will again work his magic and do the right thing before Tuesday’s deadline.
Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET on TheSuperStations.com (and on 104.3 FM in Savannah). You can email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Atlanta Braves have history of MLB trade deadline magic | Bill Shanks
