Report: Braves Budget Constraints Holding Them Back

If you’re wondering why the Atlanta Braves haven’t done more this offseason to help improve a team that was one out from playing in the World Series, we found the answer. 

It’s really difficult as an Atlanta Braves to know how great the talent is that you have, but know there are limits to the roster you can build around that talent.

At the same time, we have to watch other National League contenders like the Dodgers and Padres emptying their pockets to try and win a World Series.

These are things we’ve come to know, and unfortunately, expect as Braves fans. But this recent report from Ken Rosenthal (paywall) has me triggered.

He basically states that the Braves have been in on a number of free agents this offseason — Rosenthal specifically mentions relievers — but have simply been outbid.

And he notes that the Braves only have about $5 million left.

That’s not what really has me upset though, there are two other points in the article that had me fuming.

First, was the fact he said the Braves don’t want to get in another budget crunch like they had last year when all they could do at the trade deadline was acquire Tommy Milone.

I get that 2020 was a difficult year financially for a lot of people, and I also know things are different for the Braves being owned by Liberty Media, but to know how close we were to making the World Series and how crucial it would have been to have another solid starter in the rotation (although pitching wasn’t why we lost to the Dodgers in games 6 and 7), and then to know money was the reason we couldn’t make an upgrade more significant that Milone, is a tough pill to swallow.

Second, it’s the fact that we spent $26 million on Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly before the offseason really got going and those signings have limited us from doing much else.

They had to defer a lot of Marcell Ozuna’s contract just so we could sign him.

And I’m not saying starting pitching wasn’t needed. Morton and Smyly will certainly be useful in 2021, but both were pretty big overpays and I’m not sure what the rush was to sign them.

Now we’re watching guys like Mark Melancon, Adam Duvall, and Kirby Yates go off the board for $6 million or less and we’re getting out-bid!

Not to mention all of the bench bats that have gone for less and would have been great fits.

A lot of the blame has to go to Anthopoulos. Not just for jumping the gun and blowing his budget on Morton and Smyly, but the fact he hasn’t been willing to part with any big prospects in trades either.

I get that his hands are a bit tied, and for the most part, he’s done a good job at building this team. But this offseason has been questionable at best for AA.

My frustration is that the team is in a window to win a World Series and compete for multiples. And instead of stretching the payroll to go for it during this run (like most other teams have done) it’s holding them back from being the best they can be.