Anthopoulos on not adding a starting pitcher: Hasn’t been about money

The Braves rotation has been the subject of scrutiny following the injury to Spencer Schwellenbach, with most fans wondering why they didn’t add a starting pitcher this offseason after everything that transpired a year ago.

Every single pitcher from the Braves’ Opening Day roster went down with a significant injury last season, and that doesn’t even include Spencer Strider, who missed six weeks while recovering from InternalBrace surgery. To say there were concerns about the rotation entering the offseason would be an understatement. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged as much, stating that it was the team’s top priority.

Yet Spring Training has arrived, the Braves haven’t added one significant piece to their rotation, and now their second-best arm is in danger of missing the rest of the season. Whether Atlanta adds one of the last remaining free agents or has a trade in the works remains unknown, but Anthopoulos continues to say their lack of action in the market is not about money, as the club continues to look for a “playoff starter.”

I’m well aware there is a large sector of Braves fans that enjoys shouting from the rooftops that the Braves are cheap. There’s no question the team could conceivably spend more money, and there’s still a chance they do. But this Braves payroll is not cheap. They are set to spend north of $260 million next season and have already committed significant money to the future.

Anthopoulos has been given plenty of resources to build a consistent championship contender, especially since he was essentially handed an All-Star young core when he took the job. The fact is, he just doesn’t view long-term contracts for starting pitchers as wise investments.

He’s had no issue handing out $100+ million long-term contracts to a slew of players, from Ronald Acuña Jr. to Austin Riley. Yet when it comes to starting pitchers, he has rarely committed to one in free agency for more than a year.

At this point, this is an established strategy. Not one that has been very effective in recent years, but given the resources spent elsewhere, it’s evident Anthopoulos would rather do just about anything other than spend the money required to invest long-term in a proven starting pitcher

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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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