5 teams who could trade for Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado

4. Atlanta Braves

The Braves have been aggressive so far this offseason, and with Rendon off the board as well as the possibility Donaldson signs elsewhere, the options to fill third base are thinning.

Austin Riley is an internal option, but after a fast start at the plate upon being called up last year he faded, missed most of August with a knee injury and posted a .132/.190/.263 slash-line in September. Riley would also easily be on the list of young players the Braves could consider sending to Colorado for Arenado.

If Colorado wants young players or prospects in a deal for Arenado, as they surely would (with a presumed tilt toward pitching), the Braves are well-positioned to make a great offer. That group of young talent bolsters the case for Atlanta being well-positioned for the next handful of years and to stand pat (in a relative sense), but there’s also a strong case for cashing in some of those chips in order to really compete at a high level in a competitive NL East and National League as a whole.

Jon Heyman went on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta to talk about the Braves, their place in the third base market (before Rendon was signed) and if they’d be in Arenado.

"It feels like the Braves like to keep things on the short-term side. They get great players and that works for them. I think they’ll certainly inquire on Arenado as they have on Rendon. I still feel like Donaldson or Bryant might be a better fit for them."

Even if the Braves would prefer a shorter-term option, for some reason, and payroll is getting a little tighter going forward, the opportunity to add someone like Arenado is rare and it has to be in realm of possibilities.