3 players Braves could sell high on to retool at the trade deadline

Atlanta would get the most in exchange for their emerging star third baseman

Again, here is another potential move that would make Braves Country upset. While he had been on the trading block all offseason long when it came to the Braves possibly acquiring Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs, third baseman Austin Riley has played at a near-All-Star-level during his third season in the big leagues. He is an ascending player that could get a contender over the top.

Riley is slashing .283/.367/.481 on the season with 12 home runs and 33 runs batted in. While his defensive prowess has come and gone this year, Riley has shown that he can be an every day player at third base and bat in the heart of a deep lineup in Braves uniform. However, there are two problems with trading him: Who will replace him and he is still under contract through 2026.

Atlanta does not have a player ready to contribute at the big-league level at third base in the minor league system. Given that Riley is only in his age-24 season out of his native Mississippi, he will not become arbitration eligible until 2023, and will not be hitting free agency until 2026. That means the Braves would be giving up on five years of an emerging player’s career by way a trade.

Because the Braves will command the sun and the moon for him, Riley is not expected to be dealt.