The 2024 MLB trade deadline officially closed at 6 p.m.
EST on Tuesday, and there was a lot of activity this year. Atlanta was not one of those teams, having made only one trade. In return for previous postseason hero Tyler Matzek and third base prospect Sabin Ceballos, the Braves added two familiar faces: Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson.
With uncertainties surrounding Reynaldo Lopez’s health, the Braves were forced to reconsider their strategy prior to the deadline. However, favorable MRI results on Lopez’s forearm allowed him to avoid the injured list and Atlanta to persist with their intention of adding an outfield bat.
Jorge Soler is a recognizable face with an impressive walk rate of 11.2%, which ranks 23rd in MLB and is the highest on the Braves’ roster. He also has a respectable.329 on-base percentage. His power is down from previous season, but he remains a danger with a high barrel percentage (10.5%) and bat speed (74.4 mph average).
"We are happy. We really like our bullpen. Rotation when healthy, we think is very strong. Our offense is what needed a boost, so we were focused on that more than anything else."
Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos joins us in the broadcast booth to talk all things trade deadline🔊 pic.twitter.com/o9biwEX1SZ
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) July 31, 2024
Luke Jackson has not had the ideal season, as evidenced by his 5.40 ERA. However, Jackson performed better in July, posting a 3.00 ERA over 9 innings with one walk and 13 strikeouts. Atlanta hopes he can continue his performance in August.
However, it’s understandable to feel like the team didn’t do enough at the trade deadline. There are some missed opportunities Atlanta could have considered to give the team a tad more confidence.
Missed opportunties for the Atlanta Braves at the trade deadline
Not trading for middle infield help
Nacho Alvarez Jr. dominated Triple-A pitching before being given the opportunity to make his MLB debut when Ozzie Albies fractured his wrist. Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone well, and he’s struggled at the plate. The Braves prospect still has space to improve.
Albies will be out until at least September, so trading for a middle infielder would have made sense. Someone like Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay could have been an excellent fit for that role. Lowe is having a decent season, with a.261 average through 60 games, two home runs, 11 doubles, 12 RBI, and a.354 OBP.
He would have been an excellent addition to the Braves, with two club options remaining for 2025 and 2026. Lowe’s price may have been too high for Atlanta, given Albies’ imminent comeback. It’s possible that Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves saw Whit Merrifield as a good replacement for Ozzie and passed on the opportunity. Merrifield hasn’t been at his best this season, but he’s a strong defender, but his bat leaves much to be desired. The next month will reveal whether this was an error or not.
Holding on to players in walk years
This is an option that every team should explore at the trade deadline, and the Braves could have taken it as well. Charlie Morton, Jesse Chavez, AJ Minter, and Ramon Laureano are some of the applicants for this position.
Some rough defense hurt him but Aaron Bummer's (1IP 2H 1ER 1BB 1K) sweeper once again takes home our Relief Pitcher Pitch of the day for the @Braves. pic.twitter.com/feDlf1bm4Y
— Baseball Prospectus (@baseballpro) July 30, 2024
There is no certainty that these guys would have returned anything significant, but Atlanta may have contemplated trading some of them to receive some prospects in exchange. However, keeping them makes sense because they’ve helped the team. Morton has struggled this season but has been eating innings for the squad. Chavez and Minter have excelled in the bullpen and bring crucial playoff experience.
Perhaps the organization could have considered trading a low-leverage reliever, such as Aaron Bummer, for a nice return at the deadline. It’s probable that he and the others indicated above were brought up in trade discussions. It’s possible that the team simply favors their experience above potential acquisitions. This is the least significant squandered opportunity because it would have had little impact on Atlanta.
Missing out on going all in on the “big trade”
Alex Anthopoulos has never had a “big trade” before the deadline since moving to Atlanta. He’s done most of his greatest work in the offseason, signing free agents and making trades for key players. Examples include Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, and Will Smith, to mention a few.
AA had previously gone “all in” as the Blue Jays’ general manager, and it was a tremendous learning experience for him. He and Toronto split ways following the 2015 season because ownership disagreed with how the trade deadline was handled.
This encounter has influenced Anthopoulos’ decision-making approach ever since. This felt like the season where supporters were expecting him to make a major move and get a big star. One of the most prominent candidates thought to be on Atlanta’s radar was White Sox starter Garrett Crochet.
Crochet was regarded as desirable by many contestants, but the cost appeared to be prohibitively expensive. There was also the issue of Crochet requesting an extension with any trade. This felt like destiny for the Atlanta Braves, who enjoy making these types of trades (e.g., Olson and Murphy).
"He could've gone to a contender. Instead, he's stuck on the White Sox."@AJPierzynski12 thinks Garrett Crochet is the biggest loser of the deadline. pic.twitter.com/pudjMSaZ3n
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 30, 2024
This would have cost the Braves a significant amount of prospect money, including Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, Drake Baldwin, and Nacho Alvarez Jr., as well as MLB-ready talent.
Crochet would have filled a need for Atlanta, which could lose two starters this offseason, with Morton and Fried’s futures uncertain. Crochet is a flame-throwing lefty who would fit well into the Braves’ rotation. However, Atlanta thinks highly of Spencer Schwellenbach, and Anthopoulos stated that they received numerous calls about him from other teams. He has impressed everyone with his performance at the MLB level despite having minimal professional experience.
The prospects mentioned are all key parts for Atlanta’s future, and the price may have simply been too high. Crochet is talented, but he hasn’t pitched in the postseason and has only 187.1 career big-league innings. It would have been a great move, but it’s understandable why the team passed it up.