Alex Anthopoulos wasted no time, kicking off the offseason with a trade that sent Jorge Soler to the Angels in exchange for Griffin Canning. Some may wonder why Anthopoulos moved so quickly, as it seems abrupt to make a trade without fully exploring the market. However, there’s a strategic rationale behind it. Teams have a five-day window after the World Series to sort out their 2024 payrolls, and Soler’s contract became a casualty of this process. Shedding Soler’s contract pushes the Braves below the third-tier tax threshold, saving millions that can be reinvested to strengthen the team for 2025.
Let’s be honest—Jorge Soler in the outfield was a disaster, and his bat simply didn’t do enough to offset his defensive shortcomings.
The Return
Griffin Canning, a second-round pick in 2017, has a solid minor league track record but has struggled to find consistency in the majors. His Statcast metrics aren’t impressive, suggesting that this trade was more about reducing luxury tax obligations than acquiring Canning as a key asset.
Braves That Elected Free Agency
On the first day of the offseason, players can officially declare for free agency. Here’s the list for the Braves:
- Adam Duvall
- Charlie Morton
- Max Fried
- A.J. Minter
- Jesse Chavez
- Gio Urshela
- John Brebbia
- Whit Merrifield
Of the eight free agents, Charlie Morton, Whit Merrifield, and Gio Urshela are the most likely to re-sign, with Morton reportedly considering retirement or one final season. Anthopoulos tends to encourage career-long Braves to test the free-agent market as a way of “earning their right,” so it wouldn’t be surprising if he lets both Max Fried and A.J. Minter explore other opportunities.
