Atlanta Braves Benefit From Angels Signing Anthony Rendon

The Atlanta Braves off-season has gotten progressively better including their division rival losing their best player. Anthony Rendon signed with the Angels this off-season leaving the Nationals with a hole in their lineup.

The Atlanta Braves are still attempting to sign Josh Donaldson, however, the rival Washington Nationals have lost their best hitter in Anthony Rendon. Rendon has signed with the Angels and will be playing in the American League next season.

This is great news for Atlanta considering they will be going up against the World Series champs in their own division. The fact they will be without Rendon tilts the division further in Atlanta’s favor.

Atlanta is already the better roster, a better roster that came up short yet again in the postseason, however.

Josh Donaldson remains Atlanta’s top target though they have remained busy this off-season. Re-signing their own players as well as Cole Hamels and a  bullpen full of talent.

Without Rendon, the Braves lineup and bullpen are now both definitively better than any combination the current Nationals roster can put together.  Though the one aspect Washington will have on Atlanta going into the season is proven postseason pitching.

Atlanta’s rotation hasn’t been deep enough into the postseason to prove whether or not they have enough depth.

This could change as well though it seems doubtful Atlanta would add Donaldson and another starter. It seems more likely Atlanta will re-sign Donaldson and continue to add complementary pieces to the rest of the roster.

Though Washington has the World Series title with Rendon their future has certainly grown a bit murky offensively. Rendon is the second-star free agent to leave Washington in as many years with Bryce Harper departing to join the rival Phillies.  Moves that will help Atlanta continue to reign supreme in the NL East.