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

A proven postseason arm would do any contending team’s rotation some good

While trading Sandoval would crush everyone’s spirits and moving Riley will make Braves fans further doubt the front office, the one player Atlanta could realistically trade and get something of value for is right-handed starting pitcher Charlie Morton. The 37-year-old has pitched very well of late. He has lowered his season ERA to nearly 4.00 and he almost threw a no-hitter the other day.

The logic behind trading Morton if need be is multi-faceted. One, he has a ton of postseason experience from his time with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros before that. Two, Morton has a strong reputation of being able to eat up innings and save a bullpen from breaking down. And three, he is in the twilight of his career and may want to win one more World Series.

Though Atlanta will not get any organization’s top prospect for a soon-to-be, 38-year-old free-agent pitcher, the Braves will be able to get something for him, as well as open a starting rotation spot for younger pitchers in the farm system to get a head start on trying to earn it for next year. Overall, Morton is the most moveable high-end asset the Braves have approaching the deadline.

Ultimately, the Braves will be one of the most interesting cases to see what any team does at the deadline. The Braves have a deep farm system to be buyers if they finally start playing some consistently great baseball. Conversely, they have a few pending free agents, as well as a few other younger players on cheap contracts they could move of they want to retool the roster a bit.

The easiest way for the Braves to avoid being sellers is to get back over .500 by the middle of July.