Grading the work of Alex Anthopoulos and the Atlanta Braves front office
By Bill Felber
Free agency
Where Anthopoulos really stands out is in his free agent judgment. Since the end of the 2022 season he has signed, re-signed or extended eight players, and all but one of those eight has delivered positive numbers.
To that pursuit, he had one advantage: an intimate knowledge of the players he was after. That’s because his efforts were concentrated not on external talent, but rather on locking up the existing core of his highly rated roster. With one exception, he got the job done.
Third baseman Austin Riley was extended through 2033 at a cost of $237 million, and he’s produced +0.9 WAA in the first half of that first year. That’s built on a .270 average and 15 home runs.
Starter Spencer Strider inked through 2029 at a bargain $92 million, and has so far delivered a 9-2 record and 3.73 ERA in 16 starts.
Charlie Morton re-signed for two more years and is carrying a 3.81 ERA in 15 starts.
Outfielder Michael Harris, entering only his second full season, showed Anthopoulos enough to be tied up through 2032 for $102 million. Harris is hitting .266 and his WAA is at +0.6.
The big loss was Swanson, who took $177 million to play for the Cubs through 2029.