Alex Anthopoulos seems hell-bent on letting the entire pitching market pass the Braves by

In a free-agent market brimming with high-profile pitching signings, Atlanta Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos appears to be sticking to his trademark methodical approach, even as fans grow increasingly anxious. With a clear need to bolster the starting rotation and provide depth for the upcoming season, many expected the Braves to be active early in free agency.

However, as marquee names such as Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, and Eduardo Rodríguez ink deals elsewhere, critics are questioning whether Anthopoulos is at risk of letting the market pass him by.

Despite the apparent lack of activity, insiders suggest that Anthopoulos may be targeting trades over free-agent signings, leveraging the Braves’ young talent pool to secure pitching without overpaying in a hyper-competitive market. “Alex has always played the long game,” said one league executive. “He doesn’t panic, and that strategy has worked for him more often than not.”

Still, with several rival teams making big moves to improve their rosters, Braves fans are left wondering if patience is the right strategy. After all, the rotation behind Max Fried and Spencer Strider remains thin, and the competition in the National League is only getting tougher.

While Anthopoulos has earned a reputation as one of the most strategic GMs in baseball, the pressure is mounting for him to act before the options dwindle further. The question now is whether this apparent calm is part of a master plan—or a gamble that could leave Atlanta short-handed in 2024.