3 more buy-low trades Braves can make after Joc Pederson deal

A half-year rental of Mychal Givens could result in a long-term investment

Though Mychal Givens is on the most expensive salary of this trio, it serves the Atlanta Braves to kick the tires on the Colorado Rockies right-hander to see if he has what it takes to help them contend next year. While Atlanta’s postseason dreams are not looking great this season, Givens is young enough and experienced enough to give the Braves the jolt it needs out of its bad bullpen.

This is Givens’ second year in Denver. He signed a one-year deal with the Rockies for $4.05 million this past winter. That might be more than what the Braves will want for a half-season rental, but again, Givens could be part of their plans next year if he pitches well in the second half for them. On the year, he has a 2.92 ERA and a 1.297 WHIP in 24.2 innings of work pitching for Colorado.

While Rodriguez is more of a multi-year commitment and Kennedy would clearly be a half-season rental, Givens falls somewhere in between. The Braves would not have to commit to him long-term if they do not want to. Conversely, if he is a huge boost to their bullpen, it would not be shocking to see him get a second contract with the Braves. Givens has a ton of trade value here.

Ultimately, the only way the Braves’ slim postseason dreams stay alive is if they can fix their god awful bullpen before the end of the month. Otherwise, it will be season over in Atlanta and heads will roll heading into this offseason. However, the Braves are still within striking distance after playing a first half of the year that could not have gone over any worse for them. Hope remains.

What other under-the-radar additions could the Braves add to help save their 2021 MLB season?