Adam Duvall, Atlanta Braves. (Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)
The Atlanta Braves made a handful of trades in July that helped set up this World Series run.
For the first time since 1999, the Atlanta Braves will be playing in the World Series.
“The Team of the 90s” won the NL pennant five times during their decade of dominance. While Bobby Cox’s teams only went 1-4 in those five Fall Classics, one of his disciples in Brian Snitker will get his first stab at winning the Commissioner’s Trophy. Of course, Snitker got a huge boost in July from a series of blockbuster trades set up by his trusted general manager Alex Anthopoulos.
Here are the three trades Anthopoulos made on behalf of the Braves organization that has them four wins away from winning an elusive World Series Championship.
Atlanta Braves: 3 trades that helped propel them back to the World Series
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Adam Duvall
OF Atlanta Braves
Trading for Adam Duvall righted an offseason wrong for the Braves organization
Adam Duvall had been a key piece of the three previous NL East Division titles. However, financial issues ultimately led to Duvall’s release from the team and him signing with the division rival Miami Marlins. Though Miami overachieved during the 60-game season of 2020, the Fish quickly fell out of it during the full 162-game slate in 2021. Atlanta saw an opportunity and pounced on it.
In the hours leading up to the trade deadline, Anthopoulos was able to get his former power-hitting outfielder for a catcher Atlanta was not using. What happened next was incredible. Though Duvall did not hit for a high average upon his triumphant return to the Braves organization, he crushed one dinger after another. He ended up leading the National League in runs batted in.
While his bat was paramount in helping the Braves finally get above .500 and stay there in August, the athleticism and versatility he brought to the outfield cannot be overstated. He played left field mostly last year, but he had to answer the call and play centerfield on multiple occasions. His home-run saving grab in Los Angeles in the NLCS is his defining postseason moment … for now.
Trading for Duvall showed us Anthopoulos was willing to eat crow if it meant building a champion.