3 players the Atlanta Braves must consider trading, and 1 they absolutely can’t

One player the Braves can’t consider trading: Austin Riley

OK, there’s a number of players I could have subbed in here that simply felt too obvious. The Braves obviously aren’t trading their hot pitchers or Ronald Acuña Jr.

That leaves this mix of players that could be touchable if the price is really, really high (that we haven’t already discussed in this article):

• Matt Olson
• Ozzie Albies
• Orlando Arcia
• Austin Riley
• Eddie Rosario
• Michael Harris II

Of that list, I think Austin Riley is the most important piece to hold onto for the Braves. Part of that is depth, there aren’t immediate options to fill most of the infield spots, including third base.

The stronger reasoning, though, is that Riley is one of the most consistent players on the team. Let’s consider the differential between batting averages and OPS among those players above in wins vs losses for the Braves this year:

• Matt Olson: -0.140; -0.558
• Ozzie Albies: -0.130; -0.382
• Orlando Arcia: -0.159; -0.646
• Austin Riley: -0.006; -0.237
• Eddie Rosario: -0.046; -.228
• Michael Harris II: +0.038; +0.181

Rosario and Riley are the two players who, looking at the simplified win/loss splits, tend to play most consistently regardless of the Braves’ outcome.

Regardless of the fact that the Braves really can’t afford to lose a third baseman right now anyway, Riley is that steady presence at the top of the lineup Atlanta can count on.