The 2020 Trade Deadline came and went on Monday, with the Atlanta Braves standing pat with one sole move made the previous day. Inaction from Atlanta left Braves fans with more questions than answers in the aftermath.
Atlanta's acquisition of LHP Tommy Milone failed to create optimism after the journeyman failed to complete three innings in his Braves debut, allowing seven runs on Sunday night in Philadelphia. Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos cited a high asking price along with a reluctance to part with "Major League talent" as reasons the team did not make further moves.
Will Palaszczuk of the Batter Up! Podcast takes umbrage with the Braves position. "If Mike Clevinger cost Drew Waters & Austin Riley, I don't care! This team is so depleted with its pitching staff right now," Palaszczuk said. "I don't care what these guys can be next year, I want to win now!"
The Cleveland Indians traded Clevinger, the consensus best pitcher available, for a six-player haul from the San Diego Padres, including three Minor League prospects.
Caleb Johnson agrees that Braves erred, saying, "Why did it take you 30 games to call up Ian Anderson? What we're here to do is win a World Series & as it stands right now, this is not a World-Series-winning team," Johnson said. "The starting rotation is one area that for whatever reason is just undervaluing the importance of and saying, 'We'll figure it out'."
Joe Patrick offers a defense for Anthopoulos by stating, "You had a lot of teams that you thought would be sellers that actually ending up buyers, and those teams that actually were sellers had asking prices beyond what the Braves felt comfortable parting with," Patrick said. "It was just a really difficult trade deadline for the Braves and a lot of other teams at the top of their divisions to manage."
One consensus all three believe is that the asking price appeared too large for Texas Rangers pitcher Lance Lynn, a 33-year old pitcher on the verge of free agency.
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