What what was learned from The Athletic interview with Braves brass?

It is a rarity to get an hour of the front office’s time to ask anything and everything, but The Athletic’s David O’Brien and Jeff Schultz did so with the Atlanta Braves’ brass and pressed to get answers about the payroll and other things.

Atlanta Braves CEO Terry McGuirk and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos discussed a multitude of topics, including budget and current roster construction. O’Brien and Schultz asked hard-hitting, in-depth questions that put McGuirk and Anthopoulos on the spot.

The answers, however, were essentially the same vanilla “executive-speak” we have been hearing all winter.

Ever since the Braves stated they would increase the payroll, fans have been clamoring for a big-time move to improve the roster of the defending NL East champs.

But aside from signing Josh Donaldson to a 1-year, $23-million dollar deal, the Braves only have signed an aging catcher in Brian McCann and the incumbent and somewhat-maligned Nick Markakis to play right field.

Not exactly the big moves we all have been looking for.

While most of the answers given in the exclusive Q/A provided no additional clarity to a convoluted offseason, McGuirk and Anthopoulos did at least provide a couple of interesting tidbits that can be dissected.

Let’s take a look at the in-depth conversation on the Braves’ current payroll and where that projects to go over the coming years.

Note:  Because of The Athletic’s pay wall, I will not be able to direct quote anything said. I will paraphrase all answers given.  The original article (for subscribers) may be accessed here.