The Atlanta Braves have had a strange offseason.
Typically Alex Anthopoulos is right in the middle of conversations to make significant signings. He still has a chance to do just that and he has no excuses not to.
We usually talk about how effectively the Atlanta Braves and GM Alex Anthopoulos have handled the free agent market or the great transactions they have pulled off, but not this offseason. To date, it appears that the Braves have only lost big league players while completing minor league moves.
With Spring Training approaching, the Braves are far from the team they hope to be in 2025. There are holes left in their starting rotation (thanks to the departures of Max Fried and Charlie Morton), an upgrade at shortstop would be welcomed and one more reliable outfielder would be ideal. While it is unlikely that all of these flaws are fixed before March, Anthopoulos does have the opportunity to address one of these needs and now has no excuse not to do it.
Anthony Santander is a perfect fit for Braves, and suddenly affordable
When fully healthy, the Atlanta Braves boast two of the top outfielders in the league with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II. However, that third outfield position is now up for grabs. Adam Duvall and Jarred Kelenic shared time in left field last season. With Duvall no longer with the Braves and Kelenic an established role player, Atlanta requires another option.
Anthony Santander, a free agent, is allegedly open to signing a short-term contract. Santander has now become an ideal fit for the Braves, given that Alex Anthopoulos is known for being strategic with money and the lengths of contracts he offers.
Santander hit.235 last season with the Baltimore Orioles, with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs. Moving the switch hitter to a more hitter-friendly park is likely to increase these numbers, which is precisely what the Braves need. Take a look at this scary potential lineup if Santander signs with Atlanta.
|
Braves player |
Position |
|---|---|
|
Ronald Acuna Jr. |
RF |
|
Ozzie Albies |
2B |
|
Austin Riley |
3B |
|
Matt Olson |
1B |
|
Anthony Santander |
LF |
|
Michael Harris II |
CF |
|
Sean Murphy |
C |
|
Orlando Arcia |
SS |
If Brian Snitker had the luxury of penciling in this lineup every night, the Braves might would have the most explosive offense in all of Major League Baseball. A low-risk, high-reward signing for someone who nearly hit 50 homers last year should be a no-brainer for Braves’ GM Alex Anthopoulos.
