Braves acquire top-tier starting pitchers before trade deadline

The trade deadline came and went with the Braves making only minor moves compared to other teams. While Alex Anthopoulos did bring back Jorge Soler and added Luke Jackson, these were the only trades executed.

At first glance, the acquisition of Soler might not seem groundbreaking. His current stats are a .240 batting average, .330 on-base percentage, .419 slugging, and .749 OPS, which aren’t particularly impressive.

However, it’s worth noting that Jarred Kelenic has a .683 OPS, Adam Duvall a .587 OPS, and Eddie Rosario a .548 OPS. Soler’s performance represents a notable upgrade.

There are two key points about Soler’s impact. First, he will enhance the Braves’ offense in the leadoff position due to his patience at the plate, as evidenced by his 11.2% walk rate, the highest in the Braves’ current lineup. Second, he’s been performing well recently, with a .280/.374/.486 slash line, six home runs, and 24 RBIs since June 1.

Despite these positives, the trade deadline was underwhelming overall. Anthopoulos did explore options for top starting pitchers, particularly those who could contribute in the postseason, but found the cost prohibitive.

Anthopoulos: "We have five (starters) that we like." Said that they explored frontline starters, guys who could start in the postseason, but couldn't "line up on value and cost"

— Lindsay Crosby, big baseball guy (@CrosbyBaseball) July 30, 2024

The steep price for starting pitchers, both at the deadline and in the offseason, led Anthopoulos to be cautious. He found a couple of bargains like Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez, but wasn’t willing to overpay. Given that Lopez and Max Fried are healthy, and with the 2024 rotation largely set, the Braves’ need for a starter was not critical, though some insurance for potential injuries could have been beneficial. Any top-tier starter would have likely required multiple years of control, which may have complicated future rotation plans.

Ultimately, the offense needed more attention, and it’s disappointing that the Braves didn’t secure another outfielder. Anthopoulos seems focused on positioning the team for success with hopes that key players like Michael Harris II, Ozzie Albies, Max Fried, and Reynaldo Lopez stay healthy, and that Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall, Orlando Arcia, and Matt Olson can improve their performance.