As the Winter Meetings kick off, the Atlanta Braves won't be making even half as big a splash as their rival, the New York Mets just did by signing superstar slugger Juan Soto. After a disappointing season where the Braves only bested the Mets by a technicality, it can certainly feel like the front office isn't putting their best effort to build a competitve team in a super competitive division.
However, Alex Anthopoulos's decision to pass on Willy Adames and likely Max Fried isn't because he's being cheap, it's exactly the opposite.
The Braves big spending came seasons ago (and it's still paying dividends)
Juan Soto's record shattering $765 million deal with the Mets is understandingly breaking the brains of baseball fans everywhere. After all, if you added up the overall value of the top seven highest paying Braves contracts, you'd get exactly $765 million.
If you added up the top seven highest contracts on the Braves, you'd get exactly $765 million.
— Min Sub (Mitchell) (@MinSub4) December 10, 2024
Riley - $212m
Olson - $168m
Acuña - $100m
Strider - $75m
Murphy - $73m
Harris - 72m
Ozuna $65m
This doesn't include Sale, Albies, Lopez, or any relievers either...
These seven players are still major pieces to the Braves roster, and they don't include the longest-tenured player on the team, Ozzie Albies, the 2024 NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale, surprise All-Star Reynaldo Lopez, or any of the members of the bullpen, who had the third best ERA in baseball last season.
With the exception of Marcell Ozuna, all of the players mentioned by name are all either under contract through the 2026 season, or have an option for the 2026 season.
Several of the homegrown talent, specifically Albies and Acuña Jr. would have already been free agents, while players like Austin Riley would be entering the final year of his contract.
Instead of prioritizing big name free agents, the Braves have decided to use their payroll (which would be the fifth-highest in the league if the season started today) to lock in all-star level talent for season after season.
Injuries were brutal to the Braves last season, but even with the team absolutely decimated, the seven biggest contracts still produced 13.5 fWAR (and once again, I remind you this is excluding Sale, Albies, Lopez, and an elite bullpen).
Additionally, nearly all of the injured players will be ready for Opening Day, meaning that the only areas the team can even upgrade at are left field, shortstop, and possibly adding another middle-of-the-rotation starter (Yes, even after losing an ace like Max Fried, the starting rotation very good).
Signing the mega superstar in free agency is fun, but not putting all their eggs in one basket has allowed the Braves be among the top teams in the league year in and year out every single season.
And with Alex Anthopoulos, there's always a surprise around the corner.