Braves Rumors: 3 trade targets from other buyers, 1 team to avoid

1. Braves could swap Travis d’Arnaud for Marco Gonzales (or another pitcher) with the Mariners

The Mariners haven’t necessarily gotten off to the start that many fans and the club itself expected in the 2023 season. As of June 17, they were a mediocre 34-34 on the season and 7.5 games back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Having said that, all the signs are there that this team could get back to the form that we saw from them a season ago.

In Bowden’s piece highlighting the biggest trade deadline need for Seattle, though, he noted that the M’s need to find more pop for their lineup in the form of a designated hitter. Much like the Guardians, Bowden did mention an outfielder specifically as the most ideal target to help give Jared Kelenic and Teoscar Hernandez days off on defense to fill the DH role.

Having said that, the Braves emerge as a potential option as they could potentially, in tandem with other moves, look to deal the likes of Travis d’Arnaud or Eddie Rosario in a move that could either give that outfield and DH role more depth or, give Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh some depth behind him as well.

Meanwhile, the Mariners have an enticing pitching staff that could help the Braves fill out the rotation in the way they are reportedly trying to at the deadline. Marco Gonzales is nearing a return from the IL and, while he sports a 5.22 ERA for the year to this point, he was looking back to form at the end of May with two starts lasting 11.2 innings with only three earned runs allowed.

Of course, if Atlanta is giving up an asset like d’Arnaud, they may set their sights on bigger-name targets than Gonzales, which might be the right move. But based on what the Mariners and Braves need and the way each club could help the other fill those roles, it’s definitely a situation that Atlanta needs to monitor.