Anthopoulos on the Braves' positive season, managing the team and the aspects of building a team

Alex Anthopoulos, Atlanta Braves' President of Baseball Operations, reveals that the team’s 40-20 start isn’t just luck—it’s the result of a hard-earned reset after a brutal injury-plagued 2023 season that ended their playoff streak. He admits he strayed from his core philosophy by prioritizing raw talent over roster fit, a misstep that cost them. Now, he’s rebuilt with a cohesive, resilient unit that plays the 'right way'—a culture he says is as vital as wins. He also shares a radical truth about executive power: the most important factor in a GM’s success isn’t the city, the payroll, or the roster—it’s who you report to. He credits his direct line to owner Terry McGurk as the foundation of his autonomy, accountability, and ability to make tough calls without interference. In a rare moment of vulnerability, he calls the 'sell' decision last year 'awful'—a painful lesson that made him value building through growth over desperation trades. The episode also unpacks the emotional toll of being a 'bad cop' in baseball, where loyalty to players clashes with organizational needs. Anthopoulos argues that honesty—even when unpopular—is the only way to sleep at night. He defends the Golden Knights’ ruthlessness not as coldness, but as necessary discipline, while admitting he still wrestles with the human side of decisions.