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ESPN’s Jeff Passan on how to fix the Atlanta Braves
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves have the type of offseason ahead that could ultimately decide the next 5-10 years of their franchise. Alex Anthopoulos has to patch up the holes on this roster and get the club back to contention in 2026, or there will be serious conversations about rebuilding this time next year.

But fixing the Braves is not a black and white issue, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently pointed out in an interview with 680 The Fan.

“The problem that exists with the Braves right now is that aside from shortstop, if we go position by position, is there a position where you feel like you really want a big upgrade,” Passan questioned.

The Braves put themselves in an awkward position by locking up basically their entire lineup to long-term deals. This was supposed to be the core that kept the club in championship contention until 2030, at the very least. The problem is they haven’t lived up to expectations, outside of a couple of pieces.

Injuries have undoubtedly played a factor in that, especially when you get into the rotation. The Braves lost all five starters from their Opening Day rotation to the 60-day IL. No team is going to be able to overcome something like that. But if Alex Anthopoulos and this front office are being honest with themselves, there are a lot deeper issues at play. Even if everybody is able to come back and stay healthy in 2026 — which is a big if — is anybody really confident this is a World Series caliber roster?

“I know, neither do I,” Passan said in regards to whether he feels great about the Braves simply running it back. “Because this year was the run it back and get healthy, right? And they didn’t stay healthy and that kind of impedes things. It’s why this is such a rock and a hard place situation for the Braves right now.”

It’s going to take a bit of magic from Alex Anthopoulos to get the Braves where they need to be by Opening Day next season. He has shown he’s capable of some wizardry in the past, but that pales in comparison to what he needs to pull off this offseason.

The Braves don’t have a ton of cash to spend. They’ll be able to upgrade some areas in free agency, but not all of them. Trades will also be difficult to pull off, given Atlanta currently sports a bottom five farm system in baseball. Frankly, it may not be possible for the Braves to win another World Series if they are not willing to trade some of the foundational pieces currently on the major-league roster.

“Do you trade some of the foundational pieces, and if so, let’s go over that,” Passan continued. “Trade Sean Murphy? Okay, I can see that. Give Baldwin full-time at-bats at catcher and don’t clog up your DH spot. Totally on board with that. I don’t think you are trading Matt Olson.

Ozzie Albies? Yeah, I could see a scenario where you trade Ozzie Albies. But if you do, you’re trading him near his nadir in value, and generally speaking, it’s not smart to deal guys that have seemingly bottomed out. Austin Riley? Don’t think you’re moving him. Jurickson Profar? You couldn’t. Michael Harris? Again, another guy, maybe he has extracted some more value over the last month when he’s looked like what we expected him to look like, but he’s still a guy who you would be trading near his bottom in value.

“Ronald Acuña? I mean if you really want to shake things up, then yeah. But do you want to trade one of the ten best players in baseball? I don’t think so.”

Passan pretty much hit the nail on the head. The Braves will not want to deal any of their assets that have supreme value. The players they would be open to trading aren’t going to have a very hot market.

Sean Murphy is about the only guy Atlanta could potentially move and still get a massive haul for this offseason. He very well could be on the trade block this winter, but if the Braves were going to do that, they probably should have done so at the trade deadline.

There will be no easy answers for Alex Anthopoulos this offseason. He has limited resources to fix holes in the lineup, bullpen, and rotation. The Braves will also likely be looking for a new manager. There might not be a busier man in the world this winter than Atlanta’s GM.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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