Braves: 3 trades to help them overtake the Mets in the NL East
By Tim Boyle
Trading for these three players could help the Atlanta Braves catch the New York Mets in the National League East.
Call the coroner. They made a mistake. The Atlanta Braves need an exhumation. They’ve been red hot in June and are now within spitting distance of the National League East leaders, the New York Mets.
The Braves were experiencing a massive World Series hangover but now seem to have broken out of the slump. A wild card spot looks like it could be theirs to grab, however, a National League East title would be far more rewarding.
How do the Braves catch the Mets? It may take a collapse by New York but also a few improvements to their own roster. These three trades would give Atlanta an edge over the team in Flushing and steal away the division crown.
Braves: A trade for Shane Bieber legitimizes a questionable starting rotation
Shane Bieber is starting to make a lot of money which means his time with the Cleveland Guardians is approaching its end. Only 27 this season, he has two years of control beyond 2022 which puts him in the sweet spot to get traded right now.
Atlanta hasn’t gotten nearly enough out of their starting five. Max Fried and Kyle Wright have led the way with Spencer Strider taking a spot behind them recently. Ian Anderson and Charlie Morton are fine to eat innings but haven’t been particularly good this year. The Braves will need more.
A trade for Bieber would be humungous. Even at the price of someone like Strider, it could give the Braves a big three few teams could compete with.
The Mets have arguably the two best National League pitchers on their IL right now—Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. Each is expected to return this summer. When they do, wins should come more easily for them.
As good as Fried and Wright can be, they aren’t as proven as deGrom and Scherzer. Bieber would be a massive addition to the Braves rotation. It’s the type of all-in move to make if they really do want to win another championship.