Braves Prioritize Pitching in Latest Winter Meetings

• MLB
• Winter Meetings
• Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have shifted their focus towards bolstering their pitching lineup during the Winter Meetings. Alex Anthopoulos, the team's president of baseball operations, is satisfied with his squad of position players and made this clear during a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

Anthopoulos, who frequently receives calls seeking updates from his 11-year-old son, has been busy in the early offseason. He has fortified the bullpen with multiple signings and acquired his left fielder, Jarred Kelenic, from the Mariners as the Meetings began on Sunday night.

"Regarding the team's core, our outfield is set, and our infield is set. Our rotation has room. Our bullpen is set, but we still have a spot we could do something with. That's how we've gone about it." - Alex Anthopoulos, Braves President of Baseball Operations.

Braves' Strategy and Speculations

When asked about further potential acquisitions, Anthopoulos was clear: "Kelenic is the only position player we've worked on, and we've also worked on getting a starting pitcher," he said. "Anyone speculating anything beyond that is someone who decided to make stuff up."

Speculations about the possible acquisition of Shohei Ohtani were also dismissed by Anthopoulos, who expressed satisfaction with the current position players. He emphasized that the team has only pursued one position player this offseason, Jarred Kelenic, and successfully closed the deal.

The Braves' Current and Future Roster

The Braves have already made significant strides in their bid to win a seventh consecutive division title and, more importantly, the World Series. Their bullpen has seen the return of Pierce Johnson and Joe Jiménez, the signing of Reynaldo López, and the acquisition of left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer via a trade that sent Nicky Lopez and Michael Soroka to the White Sox.

Regarding their rotation, López could start the season alongside Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton, and Bryce Elder. However, there are indications that the Braves may add another experienced starter through a trade or free agency.

While some fans may hold on to the dream of Ohtani joining the Braves as a designated hitter/pitcher, Anthopoulos confirmed that the team does not intend to tender the American League MVP his record-setting contract. This news may be deflating to fans hoping for Ohtani's arrival in Atlanta, but the focus remains on building a solid roster and putting a good team on the field.