The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline has officially passed. While many teams were active yesterday, the Braves made their lone deadline deal in the late hours of Monday night. Atlanta reunited with a couple of beloved 2021 World Series members, but was it enough?
There are always winners and losers of every deadline, but which side do the 2024 Braves fall on? We do our best to compare Atlanta's deadline to some other teams across the league, and then come up with a grade for Alex Anthopoulos' efforts.
The price of pitching was high
After the recent injury scares in the rotation, many fans were calling for Anthopoulos to grab another starter. However, many other teams around the league were paying a premium for pitching. It started with the big haul Houston gave up to land rental arm Yusei Kikuchi.
Then the Orioles gave up some notable prospects to reel in Trevor Rogers from the fish. As for the Braves they were apparently in on perhaps the best frontline starter available Garrett Crochet. Ultimately, the White Sox decided to hang on to Crochet possibly looking to land a bigger return in the offseason.
The encouraging updates on both Max Fried and Reynaldo Lopez obviously created some cushion for AA to not feel pressured into jumping into these high sweepstakes trade talks. And with that in mind, we understand his decision.
Braves elect not to add middle infielder
Ozzie Albies' injury really created a need for Atlanta up the middle of the diamond. We speculated some names the Braves could target to help get them by until Ozzie returns late in the season, but AA ended up staying put.
Names like Brandon Lowe of Tampa Bay would have really moved the neddle for the Braves. However, the Rays held on to Lowe, and the middle infielders that ended up moving weren't really much of an upgrade to what the Braves have in house. Isiah Kiner-Felefa was really the only guy moved who we think the Braves should've made a run at, but sadly IKF found a new home in Pittsburgh.
Once the dust settled and it was clear a middle infielder wasn't coming to Atlanta, Braves beat reporter Mark Bowman made sure to mention that recently signed Whit Merrifield is expected to play a big role once he's fully healed from his finger injury.
Bowman suggested the play should be "fine" although Merrifield's last 162 game worth of stats would showcase anything but that. Should the Braves will role out a middle infield of Orlando Arcia and Whit Merrifield over the next two months, this deadline has to be looked at as a failure. Again not many sexy names were available, but a harder push for IKF or Luis Rengifo would certainly yield better results.
The Braves should expect very poor offensive production from the middle of the infield for awhile. If they're ok with that, they better hope the trade they did make pans out. On top of that they need some other guys to start heating up.
Soler deal was strictly about adding offense
The Braves weren't exactly rolling out gold glove defenders in the corner outfield spots as it is. However, they now have two DH bats and only one spot to award. As expected, Marcell Ozuna isn't going anywhere as his successful 2024 has implanted him into the DH role.
That means the Braves are going to role out Soler in a corner outfield spot on a nightly basis. Pretty bold play considering Soler hasn't logged one defensive inning this season. The Braves will have to keep their fingers corssed Soler doesn't hurt them in the field. But this move wasn't about defense.
This move was about one thing and one thing only...offense. We would've never guessed it coming into the season, but an offensive spark was a clear need for Atlanta this trade deadline. Soler surely provides that.
He got off to a really slow start, but since June Soler has been one of the best hitters in the National League. Additionally, Soler brings a key skill the 2024 Braves are severely lacking, on-base. His .392 OBP since June 12 is the fifth highest mark in the NL over that time span.
As a result Soler will be penciled into the leadoff role on a nightly basis according to Snitker. When you consider that, plus what the Braves gave up (one mid-low level prospect and covering salary) this is a good trade by Alex Anthopoulos.
Braves deadline grade: C
Just because the one trade you make is a good one doesn't mean you get a honorable grade from us. Yes, we like the offensive spark Soler can provide. OBP and power are two coveted tools, and can slot into any lineup. It's something this Braves lineup really really needed.
“Getting both on base and power were a priority for us. Jorge is the best combination of those two things and really, he was the best bat available in our minds.”
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) July 30, 2024
Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos on Jorge Soler⬇️ pic.twitter.com/eg6OSb8JFs
They also take a flyer on a familiar arm in Luke Jackson who is trending in the right direction over the past month. However, it wasn't enough. We've seen this team struggle to be consistent all year. That's why we wanted more. And maybe AA tried to do more, and he just wasn't comfortable giving up what was asked. In a season without Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider you can understand that way of thinking.
On the opposing side of that however, when you have a chance to win you want to give yourself the best opportunity to do just that. In 2021 Anthopoulos had hit on all three of his outfield trades to get the Braves that World Series title. In 2024 it feels like AA just didn't take enough swings. We hope we're wrong, but this trade deadline felt like a far cry from what fans were hoping for.