Atlanta Braves: 5 moves to repeat as World Series champions
By Tim Boyle
If Freddie Freeman flees, the Braves can make a trade for Matt Olson
First base is important for the Braves. Beyond Freeman, the best option might be to cut a deal with the Oakland Athletics. First baseman Matt Olson is expected to get traded. The Braves, with an obvious need at the position he plays with Freeman in limbo, would make a lot of sense to pursue Olson.
Olson is the kind of guy you do sell a part of the farm to acquire. He can hit for power and play elite defense. He’s coming off of a monster season with 39 home runs and 111 RBI. A two-time Gold Glove winning first baseman, he can save runs just as well as he can create them.
If money really is an issue for Atlanta in their pursuit of retaining Freeman, Olson is the best winning move they can make. He is two years away from reaching free agency. As an arbitration-eligible player, his hit on the payroll will be much lower than even a team-friendly deal Freeman receives from Atlanta or anyone else.
A further benefit of making trade with the Athletics is that they can help the Braves further. While they’re on the phone with the front office out there in Oakland, the Braves can look to add another player to help them with their plan to repeat.