Alex Anthopoulos looks to continue improving Braves roster during Winter Meetings

"Alex Anthopoulos publicly stated that the Braves would be looking at shortstop, starting pitching and bullpen. While the Braves have addressed their infield situation and also made additions to their bullpen, it's safe to say that there's still more work to be done. Retaining the services of Raisel Iglesias was good but the Braves have got some work to do when it comes to fortifying their relief corps."

"It was a bit curious to see them let go of both Pierce Johnson and Raisel Iglesias, so it's extremely intriguing to see who will come in to replace those two in order to hopefully upgrade the bullpen. The Braves also still need to figure out a better solution for their shortstop situation as well. While bringing in Mauricio Dubón was a solid move, it's pretty clear that he shouldn't be the every day starter"

"The problem here is that the free agency market for shortstops is pretty paltry - part of the reason why Ha-Seong Kim opted out is because he's currently one of the top available free agent shortstops out there. The Blue Jays are apparently pulling out all the stops in order to retain Bo Bichette, so Kim should be a very, very popular player when it comes to bidding for his services. Atlanta could solve a lot of their offseason problems"

The Winter Meetings in Orlando mark another opportunity for the Braves to pursue roster upgrades under President/GM Alex Anthopoulos. Anthopoulos identified shortstop, starting pitching, and the bullpen as primary areas of need. The Braves have made infield and bullpen additions and retained Raisel Iglesias, but significant bullpen reinforcement remains necessary. The departures of Pierce Johnson and Raisel Iglesias create openings that demand upgrades. Mauricio Dubón was acquired but is not viewed as an everyday shortstop solution. The free-agent shortstop market is thin, with Ha-Seong Kim and Bo Bichette drawing significant interest. Securing a quality shortstop could address multiple offseason deficiencies.

Read at Battery Power