Fansided

MLB Rumors: Grading trade fits for Tim Anderson, Cubs and Braves

By Robert Murray

Tim Anderson (7) hits an RBI single against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Anderson (7) hits an RBI single against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Braves Rumors
Brent Rooker #25 of the Oakland Athletics in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 10, 2023 in Bronx, New York. The Yankees defeated the Athletics 11-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Grading a Brent Rooker to Atlanta Braves trade fit

The Atlanta Braves and Oakland A’s have an extensive recent trade history, agreeing to mega deals that sent stars Matt Olsen and Sean Murphy to Atlanta.

Considering that the Braves look like clear winners in each deal (by a wide margin, no less), would the A’s really be in a hurry to make another trade with Atlanta’s president of baseball operation Alex Anthopoulos?

There are obvious fits, as Cody Williams of FanSided pointed out, including Paul Blackburn and Richard Lovelady. But outfielder Brent Rooker is their best and most obvious trade candidate, and fits the Braves very well: he’s only 28, signed through 2028, and hitting .261/.367/.509 with an .876 OPS, 11 home runs and 32 RBI.

Rooker would be a strong long-term replacement for Marcell Ozuna in the outfield. Ozuna, of course, has had a strong month — he’s hitting .321/.387/.679 with a 1.066 OPS, nine home runs and 20 RBI in his last 20 games. Whether he’s able to sustain that is unclear, but it wouldn’t hurt the Braves to check in and see what it takes to acquire Rooker.

Grading the fit: 4/10

Home/MLB Rumors