Braves Rumors: 4 trade targets to address 3 biggest needs
Breaking down four Braves trade targets for each of the three biggest needs in Atlanta to hopefully secure another World Series win.
The Atlanta Braves just keep winning baseball games and it becomes more difficult with each victory to not think about the franchise winning its second World Series in the last three years. To do so, however, they have to be smart and show calculated aggression at the MLB Trade Deadline in order to fortify the roster for a playoff run.
Specifically, the Braves have three major needs that they could address via trade in the 2023 season. Atlanta could still use some shoring up of the outfield and designated hitter depth around Marcell Ozuna and Eddie Rosario, the bullpen could stand to get an upgrade or — at the very least — get deeper, and they need a mid-rotation starter even once they get Max Fried and/or Kyle Wright back.
With still more than a month left until the trade deadline, the Braves still have plenty of time to sort out options. That being said, we’re looking at four ideal early Braves trade targets that Alex Anthopoulos could pursue in order to address each of the club’s biggest needs at midseason.
Braves Rumors: 4 trade targets to answer each of Atlanta’s 3 biggest needs
Braves Trade Targets: Outfielders/DH
4. Adam Duvall, Boston Red Sox
A familiar face for the Cobb County faithful, Adam Duvall got off to a monster start for the Red Sox this season, slashing .483/.531/1.138 with 10 extra-base hits and 13 RBI in just 29 at-bats at the start of April. A wrist injury sidelined him for more than a month, though, and he’s been slow coming back. In June, he has a measly .163/.268/.306 slash line.
Even still, Atlanta knows the pop that Duvall can provide in the lineup while also being serviceable in left field. Boston has a glut of depth in the outfield right now and could be willing to part with the veteran pretty comfortably.
3. Austin Hays or Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles aren’t going to be sellers by any stretch at the deadline. However, there have been reports that we could see many trades between contenders and, perhaps, Baltimore could offer an outfielder to help their cause.
Austin Hays and Anthony Santander have two years and one year of club control left with the Orioles, respectively. Meanwhile, they’re also both enjoying monster years with .866 and .835 OPS numbers, again respectively. Having said that, the O’s have been getting younger by the day and one of the system’s top prospects, Colton Cowser, appears ready to come up and take a spot in the outfield. That could make Hays or Santander a chip to move at the deadline for other, younger pieces, which is a selling point the Braves could definitely bite on for a bat of that caliber.
2. Randal Grichuk, Colorado Rockies
Whether the Rockies sell or not at the deadline, they should — but that was also the case a year ago when they elected to stand pat. Regardless, if they are more open to making some deals, the Braves have numerous players that would make sense for their specific needs, one of whom is Randal Grichuk.
The 31-year-old outfielder has been a consistently good hitter throughout his career, but has taken it up a notch this season with a .294/.360/.435 slash line with 16 doubles to his credit. More importantly, he’s produced away from Coors Field with a solid .707 OPS on the road this year. In the final year of his contract, he’s a rental the Rockies could look to sell off and who could be an asset on the Atlanta roster down the stretch.
1. Dylan Carlson, St. Louis Cardinals
Frankly, if the Cardinals don’t hit the reset button this season, then it’s malpractice by the front office. They are 13 games under .500 and 8.5 games back in a middling NL Central division race. They need to trade their assets, one of whom should be outfielder Dylan Carlson.
Widely regarded as a top prospect in baseball for some time, Carlson has flashed but never put it all together for a season. In 44 games this season, he’s slashing .241/.323/.401, which is right around his career numbers over 3.5 years in the big leagues.
That being said, Carlson could be a prototype for a change-of-scenery candidate, especially at just 24 years old. The Braves need an outfielder and have some young pitching that they could dangle to entice St. Louis in a possible trade, allowing Atlanta to bank on helping Carlson reach his potential while, again, getting the outfield depth in a much better, younger spot moving forward.