For the first time in eight years, the underperforming, injury-riddled Atlanta Braves were sellers at the trade deadline. But they didn’t have a lot to sell that others were clamoring for, with so few pending free agents and with the Braves not ready to give up on some players on long-term contracts who’ve struggled for much of the season.

MLB pundits and fans alike reacted poorly to the Atlanta Braves surprisingly not trading another player away before the MLB trade deadline Thursday.

Why did the Atlanta Braves hang onto their expiring veterans? President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos attempted to justify the strategy.