Is this the most valuable trade of Alex Anthopoulos’ period?

There may be some disagreements, but Alex Anthopoulos is arguably the best general manager in baseball.

Baseball is unusual in that there are so many moving elements, and while Alex Anthopoulos cannot handle everything, it is his responsibility to put the right people in place to help scout and develop all of the talent that enters the system. Nobody does a better job preparing their young players for the majors than the Atlanta Braves.

Aside from that, Alex Anthopoulos has proven to be a brilliant negotiator with a keen eye for value, able to uncover hidden jewels and lock his players into long-term contracts. He also recognizes the value of companionship across 162 games. Nobody wants to work with individuals they don’t like. Anthopoulos excels in almost every aspect, including trading.

The Braves GM’s deals at the 2021 trade deadline helped the team win their first World Series since 1995, despite losing their greatest player, Ronald Acuña Jr, who tore his ACL before the All-Star break. Alex Anthopoulos also plundered the Athletics for Matt Olson, but maybe his biggest transaction was one that went unnoticed by the national media at the time.

On April 6, 2021, the Braves made a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for Orlando Arcia. Arcia, once a promising prospect, has fallen out of favor in Milwaukee because his bat never caught up to his glove. However, the Braves needed a backup middle infielder, and the price was simply a pair of low-level prospects who would never cut it in Atlanta.

Arcia didn’t get much playing time in 2021, but he was thrown into a starting role in 2022 as Ozzie Albies dealt with repeated injuries, and Arcia had the best offensive season of his career, with a 105 wRC+ (5% higher than league average). It was so encouraging that the Braves gave him the opportunity to compete for the starting shortstop position after Dansby Swanson left in free agency, and he beat out Vaughn Grissom.

Soon after Arcia was hired, the Braves announced a three-year contract deal worth $7.3 million for their new starting shortstop, and he repaid them by being named to the National League All-Star team. Arcia’s performance declined in the second part of the season. However, that did not dissuade the Braves from retaining him as the starting shortstop for a second season in 2024, and he is once again making Anthopoulos look like a genius.

Yesterday afternoon, Orlando Arcia helped the Braves complete a road sweep of the Astros. He delivered the game-winning hit in extra innings, a rocket through the left side of the infield, his second of the game. He has a.377 hitting average this season, a 162 wRC+ (62% over league average), and leads the Braves with 1.2 fWAR.

Orlando Arcia won’t be this hot forever, but there’s no doubt that he’s worked things out with the stick since moving to Atlanta. He is now a slightly above-average offensive talent, which is all the Braves really need because his defense at probably the most crucial position on the diamond is as outstanding as anyone’s. Arcia has already recorded four outs above average, putting him in the 99th percentile among major league players.

Blockbusters are fun, and Alex Anthopoulos has made several of splashes that have paid off for the Braves. But what distinguishes him from the other general managers is his ability to discover value where no one else is looking. The Brewers were basically giving away Orlando Arcia. Now, he is the Braves’ starting shortstop, performing at an All-Star level for just over a couple million dollars each year.