Atlanta Braves President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos just dropped a truth bomb, telling MLB Network Radio that his team is “definitely not a complete team,” a wild admission with the 2026 MLB trade deadline looming and the club currently holding onto first place in the NL East. This isn’t just about adding depth, folks, this is about a top-tier executive eyeing serious upgrades.
Atlanta’s Deadline Dive: Anthopoulos Isn’t Holding Back
Anthopoulos isn’t mincing words about what Atlanta needs to push for the crown. He’s eyeing everything: “We can add rotation, bullpen, bats.” Forget focusing on one weak spot, he knows they need flexibility. The man straight up said, “I think we’ve got the upside to be a complete team, but we can add rotation, bullpen, bats.” That’s the kind of honest assessment that tells you they’re about to make some noise. Anthopoulos made it clear that while everyone has their wish lists, sometimes you just gotta “take what ends up being available to you.”
He’s not ruling out any options either, explicitly stating, “if there’s a playoff-caliber out there, we would jump at that.” And he’s not forgetting the relief corps, adding, “if there’s a reliever, we would jump at that.” He even pointed to the playoffs, where “Having a deep bullpen is pretty important” with all those off-days. Think about it, aces aren’t going deep every start, so those middle relievers and closers become absolutely critical. Big names are floating around already, like Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, and New York Mets closer Devin Williams. It sounds like Anthopoulos is ready to pounce on whatever makes his squad better.
Mets Selling, White Sox Buying: Clay Holmes On The Block?
While Atlanta plots its strategy, other teams are making their intentions known. The New York Mets are reportedly looking to “sell nearly everyone on the roster,” which is a huge deal for a team with so much talent. On the flip side, the Chicago White Sox are looking to beef up their roster as they battle for the AL Central crown. Chicago’s got a glaring hole, too, having struggled to find a reliable fifth starter all season, with only four pitchers hitting double-digits in starts.
That’s where the Mets’ Clay Holmes enters the picture. The White Sox have sent special assistant Nick Hostelter to scout Holmes’ rehab starts, making him a prime candidate for a deadline move. Holmes, a two-time All-Star reliever, converted to a starter in 2025, posted a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts and 33 appearances last summer. He looked red-hot to start 2026, putting up a 2.39 ERA over nine starts before a comebacker broke his fibula in mid-May. He’s got a $12 million player option for 2027, which he’ll probably decline if the rest of his season goes well. A healthy Holmes could be a game-changer for the White Sox.
With Anthopoulos ready for anything and teams across the league making their moves, the next few weeks leading up to the deadline are going to be absolutely wild. Keep your eyes peeled, because this race is heating up off the field just as much as on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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