General manager Alex Anthopoulos just nuked it from orbit if there was any lingering doubt about the Atlanta Braves approach to the 2025 season. Not selling. Not “re-evaluating.” Not listening to offers. Full steam ahead. And he made that as clear as a postseason fastball under the chin.
During a Wednesday morning interview on 680 The Fan, Anthopoulos wasted zero time shutting down trade speculation—specifically, any talk of Chris Sale being dealt. The question barely hit the air before Anthopoulos slammed the door: “We are not selling.”
This is Not a Soft Rebuild
You’ve got to appreciate the intensity. This wasn’t GM-speak or some vague “we’ll see where we are in July” kind of line. Anthopoulos locked it in. “I never make definitive statements unless I’m gonna stick to them,” he said. “Once you make definitive statements and you go back on them, you’re a liar, and you’re done.”
That’s not just talking tough for the sake of optics. That’s a seasoned GM putting his own reputation behind the words. This was unusually firm in a sport where front office types tend to hedge harder than Wall Street analysts. Anthopoulos is keeping this core intact—Sale, the rotation, the bullpen, the everyday guys. No fire sale. No pieces-for-prospects nonsense.
Eyes on the Prize—Even If the Path’s Bumpy
Look, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. The Braves are six and a half games back of a wild card spot as of Wednesday. They’re underperforming. Several key players are dragging below career norms. Anthopoulos knows that. He said it himself: “Right now, a lot of it is going to take internal improvement.” But even so, he’s not bailing on the ship. In fact, he’s looking to add.
He hinted at being in the early stages of potential trade talks, though he made it clear that nothing is close. There was even a mention of past interest in Rafael Devers, though that was more anecdotal than active. But what mattered more was the signal he sent: this team isn’t folding. The front office isn’t hiding. They’re still in it, and they’re acting like it.
Unity in the Braves Clubhouse, Urgency on the Field
And if you’re wondering about team chemistry—don’t. Anthopoulos went out of his way to mention the clubhouse is locked in. Still together. Still believing. That might sound cliché, but when a season goes sideways, that’s the first thing that splinters. For the Braves, it hasn’t.
The GM acknowledged the urgency of the next few weeks. And he’s right—this stretch could define the season. But for now? The Braves are still fighting. They just beat the Mets in walk-off fashion Tuesday night. That’s not a team mailing it in. That’s a team still swinging.
So no, Braves fans. Don’t expect a Sale trade. Don’t expect this front office to hit the panic button. If anything, Anthopoulos is looking for reinforcements—not escape hatches. This team is going for it, like it or not.
