The Atlanta Braves got more bad news on Sunday after Ronald Acuña Jr. tore his ACL in his left knee, and is now set to miss the remainder of the 2024 season. Atlanta has already lost Spencer Strider for the remainder of the season after undergoing season ending internal brace surgery on his elbow last month. Now, while no players are out there for the Braves to acquire that can replace Strider or Acuña Jr. earlier today The Morning Shift explained why Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos will have to try and recreate some of the magic he made in 2021 when Acuña Jr. tore his ACL in his right knee, but the Braves still went on to win the World Series.
“I think in two months you’re going to see an extra outfielder and some type of starting pitcher.” Beau Morgan said. Beau used Tyler O'Neill as an example of an outfielder that’s on a short term contract that may end up being available at the trade deadline. Eddie Rosario possibly returning to Atlanta is something Beau didn’t rule out either.
Alex Anthopoulos made all the right moves and caught lightning in a bottle in 2021 when he traded for Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, and Adam Duvall to supplement losing Acuña Jr., and while it’s going to be hard for Anthopoulos to duplicate what he did three years ago, and even harder to win another World Series without the reigning NL MVP and arguably your best starting pitcher, that's the task Alex has been given.
Now Braves fans are just hoping Anthopoulos can conjure up more of the magic he made in 2021 and use it in 2024, and if he can it might just end in the Braves hoisting another Commissioner's Trophy.