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MLB Notebook: Braves extend Alex Anthopoulos through 2031 season, Marlins could move Luis Arraez, and more
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Brett Holden
Jan 15, 2024, 17:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 15, 2024, 17:23 EST
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If you’re a Toronto Blue Jays fan (and I assume you are given the nature of this website), you may want to skip the first story. We’ve got a rumour-heavy MLB Notebook after a weekend of very little movement, but one major MLB executive did sign on the dotted line as Alex Anthopoulos is staying in Atlanta for the foreseeable future.  

Braves extend Anthopoulos through 2031 season

The Atlanta Braves have signed President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos to an eight-year extension through the 2031 season. Anthopoulos has been with the organization since 2017 since jumping ship from the Los Angeles Dodgers after one season.
Anthopoulos initially broke into the league as a scout for the Montreal Expos in the early 2000s before taking over the reins of the Toronto Blue Jays from former GM J.P. Riccardi, after the 2009 season. Under Anthopoulos’ tenure, the Toronto Blue Jays won their first AL East title, made the Postseason in consecutive seasons, and won a Postseason series, all for the first time since the World Series days in the early 90s.
Since breaking into the MLB, Anthopoulos has been widely regarded as one of the best General Managers in the game. While with the Jays, Anthopoulos is remembered for bringing some pretty big names to Toronto including Jose Reyes, Josh Donaldson, R.A. Dickey, and Mark Buehrle. But it’s his aggressive 2015 trade deadline that really stands out. He would go out and acquire star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies and also swing a trade with the Detroit Tigers for lefty ace David Price. 
After Anthopoulos left the Jays, Toronto has struggled to find much success in October. They have failed to win a playoff game since his departure; while in the meantime, Anthopoulos and the Braves have gone on to compete in the Postseason in every year AA has been there, including winning the 2021 World Series. 
Anthopoulos is not afraid to make the big swing to help his team win, dating back to his days with the Jays. While acquiring guys like Donaldson, Reyes, Dickey, Tulo, and Price, Anthopoulos had to part ways with some very valuable players including Noah Syndergaard, Brett Lawrie, Vernon Wells, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and even Jose Reyes again. That hasn’t changed with the Braves, either. Most notably, after becoming World Series champs for the first time since 1995, the Braves and beloved star first-baseman Freddie Freeman were on the verge of a separation. Sensing he was about to lose his cornerman, Anthopoulos swung a deal with the Oakland Athletics, acquiring 1B Matt Olson in exchange for a package of prospects. In 2023, Matt Olson won the Silver Slugger award for NL first basemen with a league-leading 54 home runs, 139 RBIs, and a .604 slugging percentage. I’d say that one worked out well. 
Once again in the conversation as World Series contenders heading into this season, it is easy to see why the Braves were eager to lock AA to a long-term deal.

Race for Jorge Soler apparently down to two teams

The race for one of the top remaining free agents is seemingly down to a two-horse race. The Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays look to be leading the pack for the heavy-hitting DH, but some report the Jays could be inching ahead. The New York Mets are still monitoring the situation and are interested, but the AL East rivals currently sit as the likely landing spots. 
As mentioned, it sounds like the Jays are the favourite for the hard-hitting righty (where have we heard this before?). Soler would fit a massive need for the Blue Jays, as hitting for power was a massive struggle for the Blue Birds in 2023. Soler hit ten more homers than any Blue Jay in 2023, while his 75 RBIs and .853 OPS would both sit second amongst all Jays hitters last season. After losing out on Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez, and Jeimer Candelario, plus their recent signings suggest they are also out of the running for Cody Bellinger, Soler would be a perfect fit for the Blue Jays.
However, this would mean the Boston Red Sox would be left out to dry by another free agent this offseason. The BoSox have been exceedingly active this winter and have been very prevalent in big-ticket free agents and trade talks. Boston has popped up with names like Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Cody Bellinger, Shōta Imanaga, Teoscar Hernandez, and Dylan Cease. Yet, the insufficiently active Red Sox have subtracted more than they have added. Boston has traded Alex Verdugo, who was the key piece to the Mookie Betts trade, and former perennial Cy Young contender Chris Sale, and is unlikely to bring back free agents Justin Turner and Adam Duvall. All while only bringing in youngster Vaughn Grissom, Canadian Tyler O’Neill, and struggling righty, Lucas Giolito. If the Red Sox lose out on Jorge Soler as well, it could leave them in quite a precarious spot a month away from Spring Training. 

Marlins might trade star second baseman Luis Arraez

The Miami Marlins are reportedly open to trading Luis Arraez after failing to come to an agreement prior to Thursday’s arbitration deadline. Arraez has been baseball’s most consistent hitter the last two seasons, leading the league in batting average in 2022 and 2023 and should draw a lot of interest around the league. But where could Arraez land?
There has been a bit of a market on infielders this offseason with players like Jonathan India, Willy Adames, and Ha-Seong Kim all linked to possible trade rumours, plus both Whit Merrifield and Tim Anderson are still available as free agents. But none of those names live up to the consistency of Luis Arraez. So, who could be in on Arraez?
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays have been active this offseason in not only the free-agent market but the trade market as well. Poking around the likes of Jonathan India, Jake Cronenworth, and Jorge Polanco, Toronto has been interested in upgrading the infield. 
With Matt Chapman likely pricing himself out of Toronto, the Blue Jays added Isiah Kiner-Falefa as a defensive replacement. But Luis Arraez provides what IKF can’t, which is offence. Arraez has experience playing all around the infield, including third base, where he’s played 585.1 innings and 2372 innings at second-base, both positions of need for the Blue Birds.
It is reported that the Fish remain interested in adding to their depth behind the plate, despite acquiring Christian Bethancourt earlier this winter. If that is the case, the Jays may not be the best trade partner as both catchers are key pieces to Toronto’s club. Plus, I don’t think the Blue Jays would be too keen on trading another catcher in consecutive offseasons.
San Diego Padres
The Padres have had a tumultuous offseason. After the death of owner Peter Seidler, the transition period has been rough. Moving away from massive pieces like Juan Soto, Trent Grisham, Scott Barlow and likely losing Blake Snell and Josh Hader in free agency, the Pads need to recoup somewhere. There have been rumours surrounding Ha-Seong Kim recently and he could make sense for both Miami and San Diego. 
A down year for Kim and a change in ownership has kick-started trade talks between the South Korean star and San Diego. Arraez creates versatility for the Padres who are strapped in depth at almost every position. Arraez would be a perfect fit at the top of the lineup for the Friars and would make a perfect complement for their heavy hitters like Manny Machado, Juan Soto, and Xander Bogaerts. 
Kim would slot in the void Arraez would leave in Miami, and along with the recent acquisition of Vidal Bruján, the Marlins would be set in the middle of their infield. While it may not feed the need or want the Fish are looking for behind the dish, it would still sit as a linear and depth-developing move. 
Los Angeles Dodgers
Did you really think we would get through an available player and not mention the Los Angeles Dodgers? The Dodgers have been playing a video game this winter and if you’re available, Los Angeles is interested. But LA has been looking for a middle infielder for a while now. Already linked to Willy Adames, Luis Arraez would, again, provide versatility for the Blue Crew. 
The Dodgers and Manager Dave Roberts are far from scared to test the flexibility of their players. Max Muncy can play 3B, 2B, 1B, and SS, Mookie Betts has shifted this season from the outfield to become the Dodgers everyday second-baseman, and Utility guys like Kiké Hernandez and Juan Uribe have always been a staple at Chavez Ravine. Arraez would fit right in. 
Andrew Friedman and Los Angeles are also not afraid to part from their young prospects. During Friedman’s tenure alone, the Dodgers have traded Jeter Downs, Alex Verdugo, Yordan Alvarez, and Oneil Cruz, and just last week, traded former No. 3 prospect Michael Busch to the Chicago Cubs for more prospects. Could the recent overhaul for the Dodgers spell the end for long-time Dodger, Austin Barnes, along with a prospect for Arraez? Or maybe another top prospect like Diego Cartaya could be in the conversation. Either way, the Dodgers have the weapons to make a trade for a player like Arraez and I highly doubt we have seen the last of Los Angeles this winter. 
So, where do you think is the best fit for Luis Arraez?

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY BETANO

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