Search for outfielder 'active' - but patient

The Braves’ search for an outfielder has taken priority with mere weeks remaining until spring training.

Through the winter, general manager Alex Antho- poulos has pinpointed the outfield, rotation and bull- pen as upgradable. The team can be content with the latter two if necessary, thus outfield is consuming the majority of the phone time.

“We’ve been engaged on more outfield than anything else,” Anthopoulos said. “We’ve still kicked around bullpen and starters. We’re still open-minded to some other trades for other things. Obviously I want to give the fans some type of insight and be more specific, but that’d probably put us in a tough spot from a negotiating standpoint. We’re still active and try- ing to be creative, is prob- ably the best way to put it.”

Anthopoulos took the fan pulse at Chop Fest on Saturday, seeing the anxiousness that’s dominated social media and fan conversation since the Braves reeled in two free agents just after Thanksgiving. They opened the winter with a bang, bol- stering the lineup with Josh Donaldson and plugging the catcher vacancy with fan favorite Brian McCann.

Since then, as the National League East transforms into an arms race, the Braves are taking a more method- ical approach. They don’t plan to change that strat- egy either, and if the discussions bleed into spring training, so be it.

“I’ve won the offseason before,” Anthopoulos said. “I’ve made the big splashes. It does not always work. That is not always the right way to go about it.”

“I expect us to add. I just don’t know if that’s one, two or three players,” Anthopoulos said, assuring the team would strengthen the roster before opening day.

The Braves have three current outfield targets who logically fit their roster, according to Anthopoulos. He wouldn’t reveal whether they’re trade possibilities or free agents, but it’s likely safe to assume one is Nick Markakis, the team’s own free agent who’s coming off an All-Star season.

“We have multiple balls in the air. Right now we’re weighing, do we give up mos t ly young assets in trade? Or do we just spend dollars in free agency? There are times you may be excited about a trade but you’re weighing the prospect capital you’re going to give up. That’s the way the job works, but those are some of the things we have to talk about.” So the waiting game continues.

CONTRIBUTED BY BRANDEN CAMP GM Alex Anthopoulos, giving a State of the Team Address during the weekend Chop Fest, says he’s not necessarily looking for “big splashes.”