Braves’ Bold Moves Pay Off: Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez Key to October Hopes
In a season marked by a notable drop in performance, Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has made moves that may yet secure the team’s postseason aspirations. Despite the Braves’ 2024 campaign showing a decline from their impressive 104-win season in 2023 to a projected 88-74 finish, Anthopoulos’s strategic acquisitions have proven invaluable.
On December 30, 2023, the Braves traded top prospect Vaughn Grissom to the Boston Red Sox for veteran pitcher Chris Sale. At 34 and having pitched only 151 innings since 2019, Sale’s arrival was risky. However, the Braves’ gamble has paid off handsomely. Sale, who had his salary reduced from $27.5 million to $38 million over two years after the trade, is currently leading Major League Baseball in ERA, wins, and strikeouts—achievements that constitute a pitching Triple Crown. Remarkably, Sale is the first Braves pitcher since 1889 to accomplish this feat.
In addition to Sale’s outstanding performance, the Braves also secured reliever Reynaldo Lopez for $30 million over three seasons. Lopez has exceeded expectations with a 2.00 ERA over 121.2 innings, helping to solidify the Braves’ pitching staff. His contributions, along with Sale’s, have been crucial as the Braves navigate a challenging season.
The Braves’ pitching depth, previously a concern, has been significantly bolstered. Despite missing out on Spencer Strider and facing rotation issues in late 2023, the addition of Sale and Lopez has allowed the team to lead the majors in starters’ WAR and fielding independent pitching. This newfound stability is crucial as the Braves head into October with a fighting chance, supported by a rotation that includes World Series-clinching pitcher Max Fried as a potential Game 3 starter.
Anthopoulos’s foresight in addressing the team’s pitching needs has set the Braves up for a strong postseason run, demonstrating the critical role of strategic acquisitions in a team’s success.
