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Atlanta Braves Shouldn’t Feel Pressure to Counter NL East Moves

By Jake Mastroianni

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: General manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves talk during batting practice prior to Game One of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: General manager Alex Anthopoulos and manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves talk during batting practice prior to Game One of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 28: Manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves in the dugout before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 28, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 28: Manager Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves in the dugout before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 28, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

The NL East is shaping up to be one of the best divisions in baseball this year with every team seemingly going for it now, but the Atlanta Braves shouldn’t feel pressure to react.

There is no doubt that the Atlanta Braves will play the 2019 season with a target on their back. A lot of people think the 2018 season was a bit fluky, and a result of other teams in the NL East having bad years.

Whatever the case may be, Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves front office shouldn’t feel any  pressure to counter some of these moves being made in the NL East.

We’ve already seen the New York Mets trade for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. It sounds like more big moves could be coming for them.

The Washington Nationals made a huge splash on Tuesday signing free agent Patrick Corbin. They also have a lot of good, young talent that will help them replace the loss of Bryce Harper — and it now seems certain he will sign elsewhere after the Corbin signing, thank goodness.

The Philadelphia Phillies traded for Jean Segura and are the favorites to land either Harper or Manny Machado this offseason.

You could say that a lot of these moves from our division rivals were in reaction to the Atlanta Braves bringing in Josh Donaldson. I really think that move surprised a lot of teams and put the rest of the division on notice that the Braves aren’t standing pat.

But any good owner will tell you they are not concerned with what other teams are doing, but rather they are focused on what they can control with their team.

I would expect – and hope – that is the approach AA is taking this offseason with the Braves, and here are two big reasons why.

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