3 players Braves need to steal in the impending Cubs fire sale

Landing Craig Kimbrel would be a homecoming many Braves fans can get behind

And we have arrived at who will be the most coveted trade asset on the market later this month: Cubs All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. While the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics are more likely to get him out of the American League than the Boston Red Sox, we have to wonder if the Huntsville, Alabama native could be coming home to Braves Country in July. That would be sweet.

Kimbrel is pitching about as well as he did during the peak of his run with the Braves nearly a decade ago. He has an 0.59 ERA and an 0.652 WHIP in 32 appearances for the 2021 Cubs. Kimbrel has recorded 53 strikeouts to only 10 walks in 30.2 innings pitched. As with many players on the Cubs roster, he will be hitting unrestricted free agency this winter and will be signing elsewhere.

Trading for Kimbrel would trigger the good kind of nostalgia for the Braves, as well as solve a major issue. Will Smith does not exactly breed confidence for the Atlanta fanbase when the Newnan native tries to close out games. He may be better served in a set-up role before handing the ball off to Kimbrel in the ninth. Improving the bullpen will make the Braves infinitely better.

Overall, the Braves will want bullpen help if the Cubs are about to have a fire sale. Adding either Chafin or Kimbrel will be an improvement to the Atlanta roster. While trading Swanson for Baez would be very controversial, the Braves would be getting a better player on an expiring contract before potentially addressing shortstop with a long-term solution heading into spring training.

Atlanta needs to figure out if the Braves are buyers or sellers before making a deal with the Cubs.