While Alex Anthopoulos looked like a genius two years ago pivoting off Dansby Swanson in favor of Orlando Arcia, who beat out Vaughn Grissom, for the starting shortstop gig on the Atlanta Braves, that blew up in his face completely last year. Although he did later move Grissom to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 2024 Triple Crown winner Chris Sale, Arcia was a shell of himself last season.
Arcia had once been a prized prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, but that was years ago. He has been with the Braves for the better part of the last half decade. He has his moments, as well as really strong 2023 MLB season top to bottom. However, his defense regressed last season and he was pretty much a walking out hitting at the very bottom of the Atlanta lineup in September.
Although Atlanta still needs to figure out how to round out its starting rotation, as well as address the logjam existing at outfield and designated hitter, the biggest thing the Braves need to do is trade for a star shortstop. It is why former Braves outfielder and broadcaster Jeff Francoeur was pounding the table for it while speaking to another former Atlanta player in A.J. Pierzynski while on Foul Territory.
Francoeur identified two players Anthopoulos needs to target in Willy Adames and Bo Bichette.