3 more buy-low trades Braves can make after Joc Pederson deal
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Braves could make a few low-key trades after having already dealt for outfielder Joc Pederson and catcher Stephen Vogt in recent days.
If the Atlanta Braves are to make a few more trades before the deadline, they will be of the low-key variety, similar to what they got from the Chicago Cubs in outfielder Joc Pederson and from the Arizona Diamondbacks in catcher Stephen Vogt.
While the Braves have not been above .500 at any point this season, the front office believes it can make a push to catch the arch rival New York Mets in the NL East standings. Because New York has not run away with it just yet, other teams in the division like the Philadelphia Phillies could be looking to add instead of subtracting heading into the trade deadline.
If the Braves do make a few more low-key trades, can they please be to help fix their bullpen?
Atlanta Braves: 3 more low-key trades they can make after Joc Pederson deal
RHP. 4. 3. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Pittsburgh Pirates. Richard Rodriguez
Richard Rodriguez has two more years of arbitration left before free agency
One team who is almost certainly out of it this year is the Pittsburgh Pirates. While they did send a pair of players to the MLB All-Star game, Pittsburgh looks to be sellers heading into the trade deadline. Though centerfielder Bryan Reynolds and second baseman Adam Frazier could stay put, a team in desperate need of relief pitching would love to add a player like Richard Rodriguez.
While Rodriguez is on the wrong side of 30, he is in the midst of a career-year for the Buccos. He has a 2.23 ERA and an 0.771 WHIP in 35 appearances for Pittsburgh. In those 35 appearances, he has finished 31 games and has recorded 13 saves. Atlanta continues to get its teeth kicked in when it comes to tight ballgames late in contests. Rodriguez could be a right-handed godsend.
The only things hurting the Braves potentially trading for Rodriguez are him being under team control for two more full seasons after this, as well as Pittsburgh possibly having several suitors to trade for him. Given that Rodriguez is only making $1.7 million in his age-31 season out of the Dominican Republic, the Braves could absolutely afford to take on his minimal second-half salary.
Though Rodriguez is an option, the Braves may have to give up a bit more to potentially get him.