The last two offseasons alone, Alex Anthopoulos has made three big gambles.
Each one has gone his way. Even he couldn’t see that coming.
Ahead of last season, he let Freddie Freeman walk in free agency by trading for Matt Olson, who is one of eight players representing the Braves in the All-Star Game this week.
Then this winter, he decided to make a move behind the plate. Despite a promising catching tandem of William Contreras and Travis d’Arnaud, Anthopoulos decided to move Contreras and other prospects to get Sean Murphy to Atlanta. He’s been one of the best catchers in MLB this season and will start the All-Star Game.
And then there was perhaps the biggest gamble of them all, tabbing Orlando Arcia to replace Dansby Swanson at shortstop. Not only had he not been a full-time shortstop since 2020, but rolling with Arcia meant they were also choosing him over Vaughn Grissom. Arcia has responded by hitting and fielding at an impressive level and, like Murphy, he will start Tuesday for the National League.
Anthopoulos admitted Tuesday on The Steakhouse that some of the success has caught him by surprise.
“I’ve told those guys, hey, you've made us look good as an organization,” Anthopoulos said. "I’d be lying if I told you I thought Sean Murphy would have a close to 1.000 OPS. We obviously thought he’d be really good, obviously we gave him a big extension and gave up a lot of good, young talent and so on.
“Even Orlando Arcia, the same way, I’d be lying if I told you I thought there was any scenario where he was starting to the All-Star Game. That’s obviously a high, high bar.
“It’s a credit to those guys, and also to (Brian Snitker) and obviously the coaches and the staff and everybody else. I also realize it’s also half a season, right? We have to do this all over again. Is it realistic to expect us to maintain this pace? Sure, probably not. But I do want to try to enjoy the moment even though I know once Friday starts, it's the trade deadline and all that kind of stuff.”
The Braves have been the class of the N.L. this season. Though the job is not done, as Anthopoulos readily admitted, his team is certainly operating at an impressive pace so far.
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