Throughout his tenure with the Braves, Alex Anthopoulos has solidified his reputation as one of baseball’s top executives. While he’s made plenty of splashy moves in trades and free agency, his real magic often lies in the low-profile acquisitions that turn into unexpected gold mines.
One prime example is last offseason’s seemingly unremarkable six-player deal with the White Sox. Atlanta sent several young prospects along with fan favorite Michael Soroka to Chicago in exchange for Aaron Bummer. At first, the trade raised eyebrows, but in hindsight, it’s shaping up to be one of Anthopoulos’ savviest moves.
Bummer was coming off a brutal 2023 season, posting a rough 6.79 ERA over 58.1 innings. However, his advanced metrics told a different story his 3.58 FIP suggested he was one of the unluckiest pitchers in baseball, and his strikeout numbers hinted at serious potential. The Braves gambled on those underlying stats, and after a rocky start, Bummer emerged as one of Brian Snitker’s most reliable bullpen weapons. Over his final 48 appearances of the regular season, he delivered a stellar 3.14 ERA and a dominant 1.85 FIP.
Meanwhile, the pieces Atlanta sent to Chicago haven’t made much of an impact. Soroka struggled in a starting role before finding some success in the bullpen, but he’s now with Washington after signing a one-year deal. Former first-rounder Jared Shuster also transitioned to relief after failing as a starter. Nicky Lopez landed with the Cubs on a minor-league deal, and Braden Shewmake was designated for assignment.
In the end, the Braves essentially gave up spare parts for a high-upside reliever with elite peripherals who now enters 2025 as a crucial piece of Atlanta’s bullpen. With A.J. Minter gone in free agency and Joe Jiménez sidelined, there are major high-leverage innings up for grabs. The Braves made minimal bullpen additions this offseason for a reason they believe in their internal options, with Aaron Bummer leading the charge.
