Braves: 3 trade deadline targets to avoid

Even though the Atlanta Braves currently have a losing record, they look to be active at the trade deadline once again. 

At the time of this writing, the Atlanta Braves are 9.5 games behind the Mets. However, they are just 4 games behind the Wild Card with obvious holes that can be filled via trade.

As was previously mentioned, the Atlanta Braves very clearly need help in back end of the rotation, and they could use another option in the outfield. Touted prospect Michael Harris has been called up, Eddie Rosario will be back, and Mike Soroka should make a return. However, that should not stop a win now team from making moves.

Are there moves the Atlanta Braves should not make?

Just like it is important to make the correct trades, it is just as important to not make the wrong ones. There have been quite a few names floated around on social media that the Atlanta Braves should trade for that could ultimately fall into the “should not have made that trade” category.

First, let’s recap on the reasons a team would make a trade:

Rebuilding: Teams that know they won’t compete any time soon may trade their desirable players for prospects to expedite the rebuild process.

Contending: Teams that feel they will have a legitimate shot at the playoffs in the near future will trade their prospects for players to help the team win now. Typically, this is done with a rebuilding team.

Salary Dump: Teams may be willing to give up prospects or desirable players to get a bad contract off the books. For example, the Atlanta Braves trading Craig Kimbrel to get out from under the awful B.J. Upton contract.

The Atlanta Braves will most likely fall under the contending category, with a small chance to dump some salary along the way.

With this in mind, and since they are looking to contend, let’s look at 3 players that do not make sense for them to trade for at this moment in time.