7 Braves Musings: Spring Training Questions for 2026

Alex Anthopoulos’ Vision Shapes a New Era in Atlanta

Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has navigated another pivotal offseason. He’s blended bold trades, calculated free-agent signings, and internal promotions to keep the franchise in the contender conversation.

The Braves enter the new season with momentum and a bit of intrigue. There’s a reshaped coaching staff, questions about pitching depth, and uncertainty around broadcast accessibility.

Anthopoulos Delivers Again This Offseason

For almost a decade, Alex Anthopoulos has built a reputation as one of baseball’s sharpest executives. This offseason only added to that.

He made moves that showed his philosophy: maximize value, dodge long-term risk, and trust the organization’s culture.

The Chris Sale Trade Headlines the Winter

The boldest move came with the 2023 trade for Chris Sale and $17 million in cash, sending Vaughn Grissom to Boston. Sale’s health is still a question mark, but the financial upside made it a classic Anthopoulos gamble.

He also followed a familiar pattern, signing short-term veterans like:

Each signing brought experience without tying up the payroll long-term.

A New Manager, But Familiar Roots

Instead of chasing a flashy outside hire, Anthopoulos promoted from within. That move showed real confidence in the team’s internal pipeline and clubhouse identity.

Walt Weiss Brings Continuity with a Twist

New manager Walt Weiss has strong ties to the Brian Snitker era. He’s not a carbon copy, though.

Weiss mixes accountability with approachability, which should click with this veteran-heavy clubhouse.

A Coaching Staff Built to Complement the Roster

One of Atlanta’s quieter strengths this offseason? The coaching staff. Anthopoulos built a group designed to boost player development without messing up chemistry.

Key Additions from New York

Keeping Eddie Perez brought some continuity. But the new faces might end up even more important.

Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner comes over from the Mets, and he’s known as an elite instructor and communicator. First-base coach Antoan Richardson could make a real difference too.

Richardson’s work on baserunning efficiency is well known. He might help squeeze more stolen bases out of stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II.

Acuña Returns to the Top of the Lineup

All eyes are on Acuña again. He’s further removed from his second ACL tear and locked in as Atlanta’s leadoff hitter.

A Legitimate 40/40 Threat

Acuña’s leadoff numbers are wild. His 1.012 OPS in 2023 was among the league’s best for that spot.

If he stays healthy and gets the green light on the bases, another 40 home run, 40 stolen base season feels possible. Maybe even likely.

Pitching Questions and Trade Constraints

The Braves are still watching the starting-pitching market. That’s not surprising, considering the arms race in the NL.

Limited Options, Limited Leverage

Word around the league is that free-agent pitchers with qualifying offers want longer deals than Atlanta’s willing to hand out. Trades—like maybe a run at Freddy Peralta—could happen, but only if the Braves dip into their prospect pool, which leans young and pitching-heavy.

Here’s a snag: the Braves’ farm system only got an honorable mention in a recent MLB executive survey. That raises some doubts about how much trade leverage they really have.

Other Notes: Murphy and the Broadcast Future

Injuries and off-field issues are still lurking as the season gets closer.

Murphy’s Health and Fan Access

Catcher Sean Murphy will probably miss the start of the season. He’s still recovering from right-hip surgery, which really puts a dent in his immediate trade value—even though there’s plenty of upside when he’s healthy.

Fans are about to get more details on how to watch Braves games, not just through MLB.TV. The familiar voices of Brandon Gaudin and C.J. Nitkowski will keep things steady on TV broadcasts. Honestly, it’s nice to have some continuity when everything else seems up in the air.

 
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