3 trades Braves must make in the next 24 hours
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Braves need to make a few more trades this month before it is too late for them.
Despite never being above .500 for a single game this season, the Atlanta Braves are still in the mix to win the NL East for the fourth year in a row.
Atlanta enters Thursday afternoon’s series finale vs. the hated New York Mets five games back of them at 50-52 on the year. While the Braves could have been sellers at the trade deadline, general manager Alex Anthopoulos has made more additions than subtractions to his roster. After dealing for Joc Pederson and Stephen Vogt, Braves Country better hope he is not done making big deals.
Here are three players the Braves must trade for in the next 24 hours before they run out of time.
Atlanta Braves: 3 trades they have to make within the next 24 hours
82. Adam Duvall. 3. Miami Marlins. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. LF
The Braves have already kicked the tires on Marlins outfielder Adam Duvall
Among the many mistakes the Braves front office made this offseason, letting former starting left fielder Adam Duvall walk in free agency has to be one of them. Atlanta let him go with the belief that the Braves could start defensive liability Marcell Ozuna in left field to keep his Silver Slugger bat in the lineup without the DH. Instead, Ozuna has become persona non grata, and here we are.
Duvall went on to sign a one-year deal with the division rival Miami Marlins for $5 million this offseason with a mutual option for 2022. Though he is only slashing .229/.277/.478 this year, five of his 22 big flies on the year have come against his former team. By trading for Duvall, Atlanta will have more offensive versatility in the outfield, as well as a guy it can trust defensively in left.
The only problem with this deal is the Braves will have to pay a premium to get Duvall. Admittedly, he may not want to come back to Atlanta after being spurned by his former club this offseason. Atlanta would be overpaying to bring Duvall back into the fold, but with a lackluster outfield holding this club’s offense back, beggars cannot be choosers as the trade deadline approaches.
It served Atlanta to inquire on Duvall’s availability, but Anthopoulos cannot overpay for him either.