Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels Make First Offseason Trade

If you were caught up in Halloween festivities, you might have missed the news that the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels completed the first trade of the offseason. The Braves traded veteran outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler to the Angels in exchange for right-handed starter Griffin Canning.

At first glance, this trade may seem lopsided. Soler had a strong season with a 121 OPS+ and 21 home runs, while Canning struggled with an 81 ERA+ in 171 innings. However, there are reasons behind Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos’ decision to make this move.

Reasons for the Trade

1. To Free Up Money

Soler has a higher salary with two years and $26 million left on his contract, compared to Canning who is entering his final arbitration year with an estimated $5 million salary. By trading Soler, the Braves freed up significant funds for the upcoming seasons, providing them with financial flexibility to pursue other players.

2. To Optimize Canning

While Canning may not have had the best performance recently, the Braves see potential in him as a buy-low candidate. They have a track record of developing pitchers effectively, and they believe they can help Canning improve his game by making adjustments to his pitch selection and strategy.

By identifying areas for improvement, such as increasing his slider usage, the Braves hope to maximize Canning’s potential and turn him into a more effective pitcher.

Overall, the trade between the Braves and Angels signals the start of an active offseason for Atlanta as they look to reshape their roster and make strategic moves to enhance their competitiveness in the upcoming season.