MLB trade grades: Alex Anthopoulos deserves award for the 2021 Braves deadline

Braves executive Alex Anthopoulos deserves more credit for his team’s 2021 World Series run.

It is commonly known that the Braves won the 2021 World Series on Nov. 2 when they shutout the Astros 7-0 in Game 6. But in all honesty, the Braves won that World Series at the trade deadline, when Alex Anthopoulos executed some incredible deadline deals.

On July 10, Atlanta sat at 44-44, but had just lost their star player, Ronald Acuña to a torn ACL. That kind of injury could totally derail a team’s season. But the front office had other plans.

Braves: Alex Anthopoulos deserves more credit for 2021 World Series win

Anthopoulos began working his magic on July 15. Just 5 days after Acuña’s horrific injury, the Braves would acquire his replacement. They would trade their 15th-ranked prospect, Bryce Ball, to the Cubs for the outfielder Joc Pederson.

July 30 is where the World Series was won. The Braves would acquire three outfielders on this day — three outfielders who would push them towards their World Series rings in October.

Anthopoulos would deal their 25th-ranked prospect, pitcher Kasey Kalich to the Royals for their slugger Jorge Soler. To this day, Kalich hasn’t made his MLB debut in Kansas City.

Atlanta would proceed to acquire their old friend, Adam Duvall in exchange for catcher Alex Jackson. Jackson has a career WAR of -0.9.

Their final move of the day would be acquiring Eddie Rosario from Cleveland. They received Rosario and cash in exchange for the corner infielder, Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval would never suit up in a Cleveland uniform.

Alex Jackson was the only piece the team moved that has seen Major League time since the trade. But in return for these pieces, Atlanta received 44 home runs and 30 doubles worth of MLB production in just the second half of 2021. These four pieces were integral parts of the Braves machine down the stretch.

Take a bow Mr. Anthopoulos. That World Series ring was well deserved.