Braves GM defends slow offseason: 'There's still time'

Following early playoff exits two seasons in a row, the Atlanta Braves have been surprisingly quiet this offseason. In a rare winter interview, general manager Alex Anthopoulos defended that lack of activity, explaining why he’s not making major moves while the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani and the Philadelphia Phillies entered the fray for Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“Do we react to what other teams are doing? You can’t,” Anthopoulos told The Athletic’s Jeff Schultz, when asked whether he feels increased pressure as National League rivals acquire major pieces. “You have to do what’s best for your organization. You still monitor what other teams are doing.”

When asked whether the Braves will enter the bidding war for Japanese ace right-hander Yamamoto, as division rivals Philadelphia and New York have, Anthopoulos refused to comment.

The Braves won 104 games in 2023 with a lineup that set an MLB record for most players with 30 homers or more in a season (five). Atlanta players made individual history in several categories as well, with National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. setting a franchise record for stolen bases, for instance.