There's a big brain behind the Braves' moves of the past half decade, and his name is Alex Anthopoulos. Long live his reign.
The Atlanta Braves' general manager is better than your team's general manager in 2023. He might be the best GM in baseball right now.
Alex Anthopoulos handled trades and acquisitions with the utmost finesse to help the Braves win the World Series in 2021, and within the past year, he's been cooking up some of his signature success again.
Last offseason, Anthopoulos made two pivotal changes to the roster: he let go of fan favorite William Contreras and acquired Sean Murphy, and he passed on extending Danby Swanson to give Orlando Arcia a shot at shortstop. These two moves have paid off tremendously.
As for the team's overall performance, just look at how many players the Braves sent to this year's MLB All-Star game: a franchise-record eight. And look even closer at the contracts of those talented studs, each of whom are extended until 2026 or longer.
How do you build a long-lasting juggernaut like the Atlanta Braves? Just ask Alex Anthopoulos.
Braves' Alex Anthopoulos is a god-tier GM given recent moves
"But what about regression?"
Yes, regression is real. Even then, the ages of their 2023 All-Stars as they near the end of their contracts don't raise blaring alarms.
Five years from now, Matt Olson will be the oldest player at 34, followed by Sean Murphy at 32, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies at 31, and Ronald Acuña Jr. at 30. Starting pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder will both be under 30.
To secure a team-friendly haul like that, even assuming those stars regress a bit, is unfathomable. Just a work of pure skill and genius from Anthopoulos as the Braves barrel forward in a dominant 2023 season.
The NL East leaders are primed to be big buyers at the August 1 trade deadline with the bullpen perhaps being the team's top priority.
Two years ago, Anthopoulos overhauled the Braves' outfield mid-season by getting Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, and Eddie Rosario. The result? A World Series championship. The famed GM arguably has less work to do this season, but others should still take notes: this is how you assemble success.