MLB trade rumors: 5 teams that should be buyers at the deadline

3. Atlanta Braves

The Braves have fallen a mighty long way since winning the NL East last season. They’re under .500, sitting third in the NL East and have holes in the lineup that definitely need addressing.

In a recent interview with The Athletic, GM Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged that the team could get better in the bullpen, rotation, and offense.

Specifically, he said they want to add more to the bullpen even after bringing in Shane Greene. Atlanta has a save rate of just 54 percent, ranking fourth-worst in MLB this season. They have just nine wins in relief to 17 losses.

So pitching help could be on the table, but there are other areas with obvious concerns.

Marcell Ozuna’s legal troubles haven’t helped the outfield. High hopes for Christian Pache in center field have dimmed considerably.

There are intriguing outfielders on the market, from David Peralta of the Diamondbacks to Adam Frazier of the Pirates.

According to Anthopoulos, payroll won’t be a concern at the deadline. The key is to figure out which moves make the most sense. With Mike Soroka, Huascar Ynoa and Travis d’Arnaud on the way back from injury, there’s still something to play for.