PIECE OF MATT OLSON TRADE THROWS COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT FOR A’S
The Braves have swung two blockbuster trades with the Oakland A’s in recent years, and while they certainly haven’t gotten the worst end of the stick, they haven’t been the typical home runs from Alex Anthopoulos, who has proven to be one of the best GMs in the sport.
Sean Murphy was an All-Star for the Braves in his first season last year. But considering the Braves gave up William Contreras, who was recently named the starter for the National League All-Star team, along with other top prospects, it’s a deal Anthopoulos would undoubtedly like to have back.
Before that, the Braves swung a monstrous trade for Matt Olson to replace Freddie Freeman. Olson has had his fair share of highs and lows over two-plus seasons in Atlanta, but he hasn’t been Freddie Freeman by any means, and the Braves gave up a lot to get him. Including Joey Estes, who recently tossed a complete game shutout for the A’s in just his 12th major-league start.
I don’t necessarily expect these trends to continue, but on the season, Joey Estes is 3-3 with a 4.39 ERA over 10 starts, good for 0.7 fWAR. Which just so happens to be the same amount of fWAR Matt Olson has produced this year.
Of course, Olson is fresh off a season in which he finished fourth in the NL MVP race and set a franchise record for home runs with 54. He’s undoubtedly a more valuable piece than Estes or any of the other players the Braves sent Oakland in that trade. But given Alex Anthopoulos likely could have just upped the offer to Freddie Freeman and kept him without unloading any prospects, it doesn’t look like he made the right decision.
Since joining the Dodgers, Freeman has accrued 18.0 fWAR over two-and-a-half seasons. Olson has accrued 10.3 fWAR over that same stretch. Perhaps Alex Anthopoulos should think twice next time he is mulling over a potential trade with the Athletics.
Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sports
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2024-07-04T19:54:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd