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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: observations from deadline day

By Alan Carpenter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 26: Johan Camargo #17 and Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves smile after both scored on a single by Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 during the fifth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 9-2. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 26: Johan Camargo #17 and Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves smile after both scored on a single by Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 during the fifth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 26, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 9-2. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 28: Skeleton racer John Daly poses for a portrait during the Team USA PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics portraits on April 28, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 28: Skeleton racer John Daly poses for a portrait during the Team USA PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics portraits on April 28, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Anthopoulos Used His Financial Flexibility

Ladies and Gentlemen:  here’s breaking news:  the Atlanta Braves and Liberty Media spent money.

Don’t miss this point amongst the chaos and the afterglow… the funds were flowing. We know this was promised back in the Spring, but how many believed it?

That will be a shock to many, I’m sure, but it happened:

  • Chris Martin:  2/3rds of a million dollars this year.
  • Shane Greene:  1/3rd of his $4 million salary plus his final arbitration year
  • John Ryan Murphy:  up to $300K depending on how much major league time he gets
  • Mark Melancon:  responsible for close to $18.5 million ($14 million for 2020)

The Melancon deal was clearly the big hitter of the group… and it readily demonstrates how powerful cash can be as a negotiation tool – especially if you have it and your counterpart doesn’t.

In this manner, you can take away a team’s asset, and people will actually thank you for doing so… this has been a typical reaction from Giants fans to the news:

We’ll have more on the breakdown vs. the total payroll later, but that’s a teaser.

Braves deadline acquisitions were more than you’d think

Think those last few names are irrelevant because they were already on the team?  Guess again.

As already noted, Wednesday’s moves came from a plan change.  While the starting pitching market was too toxic to tame, Atlanta was able to focus (almost) completely on relievers because of the recent performances or Inciarte and Duvall.

In truth, these outfielders could be credited with helping to save the farm system or at least reducing the number of apparent holes that the team needs to fill.

Considering where each had been, it’s very much like the idea that they were ‘acquired’ and immediately started contributing.

No need for Nicholas Castellanos.  Not Corey Dickerson.  Not Danny Santana or any of the other options Fred outlined in recent days.

These performances have been so good that they’re certainly unsustainable, but it did mean that Alex Anthopoulos could ignore those ‘needs’, save his resources, and plug different holes.

It also establishes extraordinary depth with bats that can match up ball-mashing with virtually any other post-season contender.

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