5 teams who could trade for Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 9: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a go ahead two run home run during the fifth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on August 9, 2019 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

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2. Atlanta Braves

Morosi mentioned the Braves as a possible suitor for Betts in his initial report, with a top-end farm system (No. 7 on MLB.com’s midseason update) and plenty of young talent to burn. Quite simply, they won’t have room for all of their best prospects as they come through the pipeline.

An outfield with Betts in right and Ronald Acuna Jr. in center would be where fly balls go to die, and the Braves would of course have both in place for a long time. Looking ahead to 2021, thanks in part to team-friendly deals for Acuna and Ozzie Albies, Atlanta is in the lower half of baseball in currently projected payroll ($39.059 million, via Spotrac).

In outfielder Cristian Pache (No. 14) and RHP Ian Anderson (No. 34), the Braves have two top-35 prospects (as ranked by MLB.com) they could easily consider parting with in any deal for a proven talent to fill a void in right field during the offseason. Their depth of young pitching, in a broader sense, would sweeten a potential pot for the Red Sox to consider as they may look at offers for Betts.

Here’s a hypothetical offer Atlanta could make

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