Braves: 3 times Alex Anthopoulos thrived on the hot stove, and 1 time he got burnt

Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos is well-regarded for his aggression on the trade market. Here are three examples where that aggression paid off — and one where it backfired. 

The Atlanta Braves hired Alex Anthopoulos, a Canadian with six years of GM experience with the Toronto Blue Jays, in 2017. He went on the shape the Braves’ 2021 championship roster with several splashy moves, both in free agency and especially via trade.

Say what you will about Anthopoulos’ spotty record with free agents, he’s one of the best — and most aggressive — traders in the sport. He’s completely unafraid to swing major deals if it better positions his team to contend or retool.

The Braves’ 2023 roster looks the part of a championship contender, in large part due to Anthopoulos’ fearless puppeteering behind the curtain. He has landed multiple impact players via trade.

But, like every GM, there’s always a blemish or two on the résumé. Let’s dive into Anthopoulos’ track record of success on the trade market, with one blemish in particular that stands out.

1 time Braves’ Alex Anthopoulos thrived on hot stove: Vernon Wells for Mike Napoli

In 2011, the Blue Jays traded Vernon Wells and cash to the Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera.  This move was widely celebrated in Toronto, as Wells’ massive seven-year, $126 million contract was universally considered a burden.

Anthopoulos ended up squeezing more than a simple salary dump out of Wells’ cumbersome contract. He landed Mike Napoli behind the plate and another solid outfielder in Juan Rivera. Napoli was swiftly rerouted to Texas (not Anthopoulos’ best move) while Rivera only spent half a season in a Blue Jays uniform.

The diminished returns of what Toronto received, which was partly Anthopoulos’ own doing, makes this deal feel less seismic in hindsight, but the Wells contract was a true albatross and the trade freed up Toronto’s financial profile to help initiate other moves.

Wells slashed .222/.258/.409 with 36 home runs and 96 RBIs in 208 games for the Angels before moving on two years later.