Braves News and Links: New GM Anthopoulos readies for Winter Meetings

BRAVES NEWS

Anthopoulos gears up for 1st WM with Braves

Braves beat writer Mark Bowman breaks down the current state of the club and how Alex Anthopoulos may approach reconstructing the roster in the coming weeks. More specifically, the Braves GM will need to be ready for the Winter Meetings and the associated chaos that will take place in just four days.

The Braves could benefit from the addition of a proven reliever, and if the right deal materializes, there could be a desire to trade for a top-flight starting pitcher. From an offensive perspective, Anthopoulos will keep his eyes and ears open for ways the club can improve at third base.

Braves ink infielder Christian Colon to minor league deal, per report

In an under-the-radar move for the club, the Braves signed infielder Christian Colon to a minor league contract on Wednesday. The hope is that Colon can be a valuable bench piece for the Braves, owing to his ability to play all over the infield. Colon is a former fourth overall pick of the Royals who has found limited success at the major league level thus far, but he could be useful is his bat allows him to make the roster.

MLB NEWS

Shohei the money? Angels, M's deal for dough

The Angels and Mariners are reportedly in hot pursuit of Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani, and reinforced that belief on Wednesday as both clubs dealt for additional international bonus pool slots that will aid their abilities to sign Ohtani.

The deals have separated the top three teams from the pack. The Mariners now have $2.557 million to offer Ohtani, the second-highest amount among the seven remaining suitors for the unique talent. The Angels, who now have $2.315 million, are next. The Rangers ($3.535 million) still lead the way. The Cubs, Dodgers, Padres and Giants can only offer Ohtani a $300,000 bonus as a penalty for exceeding their allotted bonus pools in a previous signing period.

Report: Stanton may be dealt before Meetings

I hate putting this story along with Ohtani on every News and Links just as much as you hate reading about it, but these two issues are seemingly the biggest holdups to other moves being made. Stanton is understandably a roadblock for other moves as those interested are, given his enormous contract, unlikely to make other significant moves prior to his departure from Miami.