Robbie Grossman has been another Alex Anthopoulos specialty

Like all general managers, Alex Anthopoulos hasn’t been perfect, especially with some of the more lucrative contracts he’s handed out in free agency — Will Smith and Marcell Ozuna, in particular. However, where AA has worked his magic over his tenure as the Braves general manager is with his under-the-radar acquisitions. There is a laundry list of lesser-known individuals brought in via trade or free agency for pennies that have played a critical role in the Braves’ last four NL East titles and their most recent World Series. It’s been incredible, and Anthopoulos’s latest gem is Robbie Grossman.

The Braves acquired Grossman from the Tigers for virtually nothing, sending 2021 16th-round pick Kris Anglin to Detroit. Had Grossman not been traded, there was a chance the Tigers DFA’d him anyways, but the Braves didn’t want to take that risk. They saw something in the switch-hitting outfielder and pulled the trigger on the deal.

Before the trade, Grossman only hit .205 with a couple of home runs, but he did have a track record of success against left-handed pitching, which is why most people figured the Braves acquired him as a platoon option with Eddie Rosario. Instead, he’s become an everyday player for Atlanta, showing some consistency from both sides of the plate. In 33 games with the Braves, he’s already doubled his home run total from Detroit and almost has nearly as many RBIs to go along with his .698 OPS — 100 points better than in Detroit. He has already delivered several times in critical moments for the Braves, including on their most recent road trip when he delivered this go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning against the Mariners.