There are a lot of questions being asked about the 0-6 Braves. One of the main concerns is if the team spent enough in the offseason to be a true title contender? Mike Bell and Carl Dukes got into a heated conversation Wednesday about that very subject.
Bell argued the team came into the season short on pitching and at the shortstop position after Orland Arcia struggled mightily in 2024. With starter Reynaldo Lopez now on the shelf for several months, their pitching staff will be tested even further. The team also did not replace both back-end bullpen relievers A.J. Minter (left for Mets) and Joe Jiminez (lost to injury).
Dukes countered by saying the team is a top-ten payroll squad and the team can't predict injuries. General Manager Alex Anthopoulos is believed to have a limit on how much he can spend, although that has never been fully verified. Here is a list of the highest spending teams in MLB:
New York Mets, $323,099,999
Los Angeles Dodgers, $321,287,291
New York Yankees, $293,488,972
Philadelphia Phillies, $284,210,820
Toronto Blue Jays, $239,642,532
Texas Rangers, $220,541,332
Houston Astros, $220,217,813
Atlanta Braves, $214,836,398
San Diego Padres, 208,909,333
Chicago Cubs, $196,288,250