The Atlanta Braves made a move late on Monday night to acquire two former players in World Series MVP Jorge Soler and relief pitcher Luke Jackson. Alex Anthopoulos will hope to rekindle some of the postseason magic that the spurred the Braves to a title, but will he be enough? The Steakhouse isn't convinced.
Steak highlighted the wonderful additions that these two made to the team's championship run in 2021, but then compared this situation to a gambler who won big at the tables. Why go back to the well?
The Braves have already added two of the four players that were acquired ahead of the deadline three years ago with Eddie Rosario and Adam Duvall. Soler makes it three. Is this just a gamble that Anthopoulos thinks could hit again?
"These are journeymen players that went off [in 2021]," Steak said. "This is absolutely hitting the lottery. It's not just that you want to hit three out of four numbers, you want four of four numbers. I don't think these are significant moves... These are not guys who are going to turn the tide."
What happened that season was lightning in a bottle. Joc Pederson (the fourth and final piece of the Braves' 'infinity gauntlet') was the NLDS MVP, Eddie Rosario was the NLCS MVP, and Jorge Soler was the World Series MVP. The odds are infinitely slim that they could rekindle that magic one more time.
"That's a roster with Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies," he continued. "That's your roster. Those were your stars. [This] is sentimental and it feels good. They know the clubhouse and Snit knows them... They understand how the Braves go about their business, but man oh man just look at what [the Braves] are trying to overcome this year."
Soler, who has been a designated hitter for the Giants this season, will likely slot into right field for the Braves and take over as the first hitter in the lineup. One fact that should bring some solace to Braves fans is Soler's .286/.392/.507 slash line since June 12th and the fact that he owns longest home run of the season (478 feet).
Jackson, meanwhile, will join the star-studded Braves bullpen that owns the lowest ERA in the NL by a considerable margin (2.90). The reliver has been a bit of a mixed-bag this season with his 5.40 ERA over 35 innings pitched, but has turned in a strong July.