Why Braves Aren’t Worried About Mets Spending Spree
The New York Mets are stealing all the headlines in the offseason, but the Atlanta Braves and their fans should be too concerned.
It can be frustrating as a fan to sit back and watch one of your division rivals spend big money in the offseason. But if we’ve learned anything over the last three or four years, the Atlanta Braves don’t overreact to offseason noise.
That’s why while you’ll see a lot of teams throwing around big money to sign free agents before the impending lockout, the Braves likely won’t be one of them.
Alex Anthopoulos and his staff will sit back and make the deals that make the most sense for them while not jeopardizing the future.
A strategy that in the past has frustrated fans — and rightfully so at times — is now easier to handle after winning a World Series.
Braves fans should understand by now that it’s not about winning the offseason but winning in the regular season, which includes the trade deadline.
AA has stated several times that he likes to save money for in-season moves — moves that had directly led to division crowns and a World Series over the last four years.
Why Braves Aren’t Sweating the Mets
The New York Mets and their billionaire owner have gone out and spent stupid money already this offseason. They’ve spent over a quarter of a million dollars on Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, and Max Scherzer in the past three days alone.
They’re heading towards having the highest payroll in all of Major League Baseball in 2022.
And I’ll be honest, I like the moves they’ve made. Especially the position player signings as Marte, Canha, and Escobar add very good depth.
The signing of Scherzer is risky. Yes, having two of the best pitchers of the past decade in your rotation with Scherzer and Jacob deGrom is great.
But what are the chances both of them stay healthy for an entire season?
If that happens, then maybe the Mets are in business. But if not, I don’t really trust their pitching behind those two.
And maybe they still have the money to go out and buy a Marcus Stroman or Robbie Ray — who knows at this point.
All that said, until the Mets actually prove it on the field, the Braves have nothing to worry about.
They still have one of the best young rotations in all of baseball — especially if Mike Soroka can get (and stay) healthy — and maybe the best young player in all of baseball in Ronald Acuna Jr.
I fully expect them to bring back Freddie Freeman.
Next. Riley is Super. dark
The point is, the Mets are still trying to catch the Braves. They can spend all the money they want this offseason, but until they actually prove it on the field it doesn’t mean a whole lot.