Braves Cut Former NL MVP Right After Trade Deadline Disappointment

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 15: The Atlanta Braves logo connected a chapeau against the Chicago White Sox connected July 15, 2023 astatine Truist Park successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)

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The Atlanta Braves entered the waste and acquisition deadline hoping to fortify a roster pinch postseason aspirations, peculiarly a starting rotation that galore astir shot believed still needed different frontline arm. Instead, the nine emerged pinch only humble additions aft apparently falling short connected respective eager pursuits.

That result near immoderate disappointment astir the organization, particularly aft different deadline successful which Atlanta was linked to immoderate of the biggest names connected the marketplace but yet chose not to salary the asking prices for elite pitching.

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Atlanta Braves Part Ways With Former National League MVP In Surprise Roster Move

The roster fallout from the deadline continued almost instantly successful the insignificant leagues and it came to effect a trio of veterans, including erstwhile National League Most Valuable Player Award victor Andrew McCutchen, who was from Triple-A trim alongside Austin Gamber and Ben Gamel, per the charismatic transaction log.

While each 3 veterans are now free to motion elsewhere, McCutchen's departure stands retired the most. The five-time All-Star joined Atlanta's statement arsenic knowledgeable extent but was incapable to gain a return to the large leagues earlier his cut. He made a little awesome convention quality pinch the Texas Rangers earlier this season.

Atlanta Braves Shuffle Organization Immediately After Harsh Trade Deadline

The determination to trim McCutchen evidently took spot connected Monday, arsenic the Braves came to position pinch a comparatively quiet waste and acquisition deadline.

“The Braves tweaked their roster astatine the waste and acquisition deadline, but they fell short of making a important rotation summation who could change their October outlook,” Gabriel Burnes wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s deja vu aft the squad was criticized successful outpouring for failing to amended its starting pitching. The last consequence wasn’t from deficiency of effort. The squad tried for galore starting pitchers, including aces specified arsenic Texas’ Jacob deGrom and San Francisco’s Logan Webb…”

President of shot operations Alex Anthopoulos defended the organization's attack afterward successful a property convention that held immoderate tension.

“We said nary to a batch of things,” Anthopoulos told reporters, per Burnes. “That’s not easy to do. But you person to do what you consciousness is correct for the organization.”

For McCutchen, Gomber and Gamel, the releases create contiguous free agency opportunities arsenic seasoned extent options for contenders seeking knowledgeable reinforcements. McCutchen, successful particular, brings a dressed up resume that includes the 2013 National League MVP Award, much than 2,200 profession hits and years of clubhouse leadership. Although his Braves stint proved brief, the 39-year-old now has different opportunity to widen 1 of baseball’s astir accomplished careers elsewhere.