NEW DELHI: The
Atlanta Braves
have solidified their commitment to General Manager
Alex Anthopoulos
by agreeing to a contract extension that extends his tenure with the six-time reigning
NL East champions
through the 2031 season. The announcement on Friday comes after Anthopoulos led the Braves to a
World Series championship
in 2021 and played a pivotal role in securing
long-term contracts
for many of the team's top players.
Hired in 2017, Anthopoulos took over the reins when the Braves were grappling with four consecutive losing seasons and a scandal involving international signings. Under his leadership, the Braves embarked on a remarkable run of division titles starting in 2018. The team's success culminated in a stellar 104-win season last year, though they were eliminated in the NL Division Series by the Philadelphia Phillies for the second consecutive year.
Expressing gratitude for the continued support and trust from Braves CEO
Terry McGuirk
, Anthopoulos stated, "The Braves are an incredible organization to be a part of, and I’m proud of the success we’ve achieved together. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead baseball operations and to strive to bring another World Series to Atlanta."
Anthopoulos, 46, has been instrumental in constructing a roster poised for long-term success, securing multiyear deals for key players like NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, Matt Olson,
Spencer Strider
, and
Sean Murphy
. The GM's savvy moves ahead of the 2021 trade deadline, bringing in outfielders Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, Adam Duvall, and Joc Pedersen, were critical to the Braves clinching their first World Series title since 1995.
Braves CEO Terry McGuirk praised Anthopoulos's track record of success, stating that the extension provides him with the opportunity to make long-term decisions and continue assembling teams that are perennial contenders. McGuirk expressed utmost confidence in Anthopoulos's ability to deliver championship baseball for Braves fans well into the future. Anthopoulos's previous contract, announced in February 2020, was initially set to run through the 2024 season.
(Inputs from AP)
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