The Braves only made one acquisition at the trade deadline in the form of Jorge Soler. The World Series MVP should provide a boost to an offense that has struggled to find some consistency. Soler slots in at the top of the lineup, but it was certainly an underwhelming trade deadline haul for a Braves team with championship aspirations and a ton of holes.
They’re home ♥️#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/jh8ssCsi3Y
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 1, 2024
It’s clear what Alex Anthopoulos is banking on. Firstly, the All-Stars to start to contribute more — i.e., Sean Murphy and Matt Olson. But more importantly, Atlanta’s president of baseball operations is anticipating better health.
The #Braves today reported RHP Luke Jackson and OF Jorge Soler to Atlanta after optioning RHP Bryce Elder and INF Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Triple-A Gwinnett following yesterday’s game.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 31, 2024
Michael Harris and Ozzie Albies are two All-Star caliber players he’s expecting back, but sooner, Atlanta is expecting to have Max Fried and Reynaldo Lopez back in fold.
This morning, Anthopoulos took to the radio to tell 92.9 The Game’s host Steak Shapiro that Max Fried was going to throw a bullpen. This afternoon, Anthopoulos told the Braves booth during the Brewers game that Fried’s bullpen session went great and alluded to him starting a game against the Marlins this weekend.
Feels good to be back home 😁#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/l1EGMBKlYk
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 2, 2024
The Braves getting healthy is the only hope they have of competing in the postseason. Fried, Lopez, Harris, and Albies would be the best trade deadline of all time, as Chip Caray would say. Anthopoulos is counting on it.
Story by Alex Lord, SportsTalkATL