3 Braves trades that helped get them to World Series
By John Buhler
OF. Atlanta Braves. Joc Pederson. 17. Pick Analysis. 2. player. Scouting Report
Joc Pederson not only filled a pressing need, but became a cultural phenomenon
When Ronald Acuña Jr. blew out his ACL on the warning track in Miami in the final series before the All-Star break, it felt like season over in Braves Country. It was the type of injury that crushes a team’s spirit and willingness to compete. These men are professionals, but that early July game vs. Miami was beyond soul-crushing. Anthopoulos had to act fast to save a sinking ship in Atlanta.
He wisely identified a lost cause on the North Side of Chicago. With the Chicago Cubs about to have a Tobias Fünke fire sale, Anthopoulos arrived a few weeks early to trade for former Los Angeles Dodgers star Joc Pederson. The idea is he would play right field and bat leadoff as an imitation crab version of Atlanta’s best player. As it turns out, that was not even the half of it…
Pederson more than embraced his role, even if he was relegated to a part-time player and a pinch hitter coming off the bench. Forever rocking a pearl necklace, the baddest bitch in The ATL was the star of the NLDS series vs. the Milwaukee Brewers. When Jorge Soler tested positive for COVID, it was Pederson who got every start in right field once again. He was the Braves’ secret weapon.
Pederson’s arrival in Atlanta epitomized that this year’s team was never, ever going to say die.