3 players the Braves could trade while they still have the chance
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Braves could trade one of these three players while they still have a chance.
Alex Anthopoulos is known to make a deal or two as the Atlanta Braves‘ general manager.
The Braves will be favored to win the National League East for the fourth year in a row in 2021. While it is a bit early to say it is World Series or bust for this team, Atlanta was one win away from getting to the Fall Classic this past October. Though Anthopoulos does not have to make any deal he does not see fit, he could part ways with one of these three Braves before the deadline.
3 Braves who could be moved before it is too late
LHP. Atlanta Braves. Will Smith. 3. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 17
There were two intriguing candidates for this No. 3 spot. Both have multiple years under contract with the Braves and could be viable assets teams not as deep into their competitive life cycles as Atlanta. Because parting ways with shortstop Dansby Swanson feels utterly blasphemous to many in Braves Country, we are going to put left-handed reliever Will Smith on this trade list.
Like Swanson, Smith is a native of the Greater Atlanta area. So why would he want to play anywhere else? He is already on a team within striking distance of winning its first World Series since 1995. The reasons Anthopoulos could move Smith at the deadline are two-fold: Bullpen depth and the ability to command something in return. Smith is under contract through 2022.
The eight-year MLB veteran made his first career trip to the All-Star Game in 2019 as a member of the San Francisco Giants. While Smith had five-year run between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Giants, Smith had his worst season in the big leagues since his rookie year with the 2012 Kansas City Royals last season. Smith gave up the long ball a ton in 2020, and it was an issue.
While Smith could absolutely have a bounce-back season in his second year in Atlanta, Anthopoulos could move him for either another arm or a decent prospect. If Anthopoulos could rebuild a rotation on the fly like he did at the 2019 MLB trade deadline, he may have no problem dealing a player who will have underperformed the first half of his three-year Atlanta contract.