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Braves: 3 trades to help them overtake the Mets in the NL East

By Tim Boyle

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 03: Managers Buck Showalter #11 of the New York Mets and Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves talk with the field umpires before the game at Citi Field on May 03, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 03: Managers Buck Showalter #11 of the New York Mets and Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves talk with the field umpires before the game at Citi Field on May 03, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 29: Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Kansas City Royals bats against the Minnesota Twins on May 29, 2022 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

2) Braves: Andrew Benintendi is exactly what the outfield needs

Kansas City Royals outfielder Andrew Benintendi might be one of this summer’s best trade candidates. On the Braves, he could easily play any of the three outfield positions although Atlanta would probably prefer him in one of the corner spots.

Benintendi is challenging to hit over .300 for the first time in his career. A solid OBP guy throughout his career with no season other than his 14-game run in 2020 standing out as “poor,” he’s a left-handed hitting outfielder with a Gold Glove pedigree to help them catch New York.

Going after Benintendi would be similar to what the Braves did at last year’s trade deadline when they added several outfielders into the mix. Although he doesn’t have much power, it’s not really a major need for the Braves anyway. It’s those other tools—like reaching base and playing good defense—that should entice the Braves enough to consider him as one of their primary trade deadline targets.

Atlanta hasn’t gotten much out of any of their outfielders this year aside from Ronald Acuna Jr. who missed a good part of the year. Put Benintendi in left field every day and the Braves offense and defense gets better.

Because he is a free agent at the end of this season, the Braves could always assess at the end of the year whether or not they want him back. They should. He’s a solid and reliable player.

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