Braves fans should prepare for a November surprise

The Braves season ended six weeks ago, and MLB Free Agency opened up four weeks later. Things haven’t really begun to pick up across the league, but understandably, Braves Country is impatient after such a frustrating season that ended with a third consecutive first-round exit in the postseason. We are ready for some moves, and the good news is we may not have to wait much longer for a November surprise.

While everybody else is typically gathering around the table for Thanksgiving festivities, Alex Anthopoulos is cut from a different cloth. He has a history of making moves in late November, oftentimes the most significant acquisition of the offseason.

Braves November Acquisitions Under Alex Anthopoulos

• Braves sign Josh Donaldson and Brian McCann (2018)
• Braves sign Will Smith and Travis d’Arnaud (2019)
• Braves sign Charlie Morton (2020)
• Braves sign Reynaldo Lopez (2023)

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Now is right around the time things start to get serious. Conversations are already ongoing, and the Winter Meetings are less than a month away, beginning on December 8th. Between now and the end of the Winter Meetings, it would be rather shocking if the Braves didn’t make at least one substantial addition, which Alex Anthopoulos alluded to recently in an interview with 680 The Fan. 

“The winter meetings are next month, and I expect things to continue to accelerate there,” said Anthopoulos. “Between now and the winter meetings, there’s going to be a lot of conversation. I was just on the phone with some teams this morning.”

One thing you might notice about the acquisitions above is they are all free agent signings. In each of the last three offseasons, the Braves have swung a blockbuster trade, but those typically take a little more time to develop. Although, the Sean Murphy trade was completed on December 12th of 2022, not long after the completion of the Winter Meetings.

When these moves will occur is unknown, but what I can guarantee is the Braves will be as busy as any organization this offseason. They are smack dab in the middle of their championship window, fresh off three straight disappointing early playoff exits, and have a plethora of needs to address. Additions are coming, and there’s likely to be many of them.

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Photo: Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire

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