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Are the Atlanta Braves in or out on Dallas Keuchel, Craig Kimbrel?

By Alan Carpenter

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Brian McCann #16 talks with Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 16: Brian McCann #16 talks with Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON – AUGUST 13: General Manager Omar Minaya (R) of the New York Mets talks with General Manager Jim Bowden of the Washington Nationals August 13, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – AUGUST 13: General Manager Omar Minaya (R) of the New York Mets talks with General Manager Jim Bowden of the Washington Nationals August 13, 2008 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

GM-turned-broadcaster Jim Bowden asked Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos about the 2 big free agents still without jobs. So what was his answer?

On Sunday morning, Alex Anthopoulos was a guest of Jim Bowden’s on “The Front Office” – a weekly production of MLB Network Radio on Sirius/XM.  Bowden is never shy about asking the bold questions, and the Atlanta Braves‘ General Manager had to know it was coming.

Trouble is, Bowden went into a bit of ‘marketing mode’ when he tweeted about the interview and his words weren’t exactly the same as those from Anthopoulos:

Hmmm… that sounds juicy, doesn’t it?  However, let’s check the actual interview and see what he actually said (self-transcripted):

  • “There’s no doubt that [the bullpen is] definitely been an area that we’ve tried to address and [we] need to address.”
  • “I felt like the bullpen had stabilized quite a bit in the last week to 10 days.”
  • (Discussion about recent bullpen ERA rank changes)
  • (Noted having multiple bullpen guys unavailable for Saturday’s game due to the extra inning game in San Fran plus the short-turnaround into St. Louis)

ON THE FREE AGENTS

  • “In terms of guys like Kimbrel, Keuchel, and so on… obviously can’t get into too much talking about free agents, but I’ve said this before:  those guys will make any team better; they’re going to sign at some point.”
  • “I would think both guys can certainly help our club.”
  • “We’ve done a nice job in our rotation” (as currently constructed)
  • “I think our surge… has really been fueled by our starters” (notes starter ERA dropping)
  • “I think it’s fair to say – any free agents that are out there… certainly the draft pick [compensation no longer being a factor after next week]… I think would only help their market.”
  • “Like anybody else, I’m sure, we will do our work on it.”

Does any of that sound like having “real interest” or does it sound more like the usual milquetoast GM-speak? 

Yeah, I thought so too.  He certainly did not indicate “real interest” in either pitcher… much less both.

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