Braves rumors: Reunion with World Series champion hinges on trade partner

The Atlanta Braves want to upgrade their outfield depth at the trade deadline but a sensible reunion with a World Series champ hinges on the other team.

Despite the emergence of rookie Michael Harris II this season, perhaps the biggest need for the Atlanta Braves as the MLB Trade Deadline approaches is further depth in the outfield. That, of course, is largely necessitated because of the injury to Adam Duvall that leaves the defending World Series champions a bit shorthanded.

As fate would have it, there’s a potential trade target from last year’s World Series-winning team that could fill the void in Atlanta.

Joc Pederson would make a ton of sense for the Braves as he could come right in and, in essence, fill the exact role that he did last season as a spark plug and power bat who could platoon or start every day depending on what Atlanta needs — oh yeah, he’s also a high-quality option for the DH as well.

However, a trade for Pederson to come back to Truist Park might not depend on the champs but, rather, the Giants.

Braves rumors: Joc Pederson trade hinges on if Giants decide to sell

MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand noted that, while Pederson would make sense for the Braves, a possible trade almost wholly depends on what San Francisco does at the deadline. They aren’t far removed from the NL Wild Card race but, at the same time, the club has been skidding and could put the front office into sell-mode at the deadline.

The good news for Atlanta, as Feinsand noted, is that there are people in the league who believe that the Giants will indeed sell, which would obviously make a Pederson reunion possible.

There are just days remaining until Tuesday, Aug. 2 when the time for trades will come to a close. Subsequently, we can expect the Braves to be eagerly awaiting for the Giants to decide what direction they’re going to head at the deadline.