3 Braves trade targets from Pirates deadline selling, 1 to avoid
The Pirates will sell at the MLB Trade Deadline and the Atlanta Braves should be all over it. Who should be the Braves trade targets? Who should they avoid?
After the first month of the 2023 MLB season, both the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates were atop their respective divisions and looking like part of the best in the National League. In the two months since, however, the two clubs have diverged in their trajectories.
Where the Braves have continued to roll as the best team in the NL, the Pirates have fallen off of a cliff. So with the MLB Trade Deadline now just a hair more than a month away, Atlanta is looking to upgrade the roster as a buyer while the Pirates are, instead, looking to sell, as reported by insider Jon Morosi.
Perhaps there’s a match to be made between these two clubs in a trade? In fact, there is definitely a trade or two that should be on the table.
So let’s take a look at three trades the Braves should definitely pursue or explore with the Pirates, but also at one deal that Atlanta needs to be sure that they avoid for one reason or another.
Braves Rumors: 3 trades to make with selling Pirates, 1 to avoid
3. Rich Hill, SP
When Max Fried and Kyle Wright hit the IL almost simultaneously with injuries, the talk for the Braves looking way ahead to the trade deadline was that they would be looking to upgrade the rotation with more quality depth. Now that Fried is closing in on a return, though, that seems like less of a concern than it was by a substantial degree.
Though that may be true, when Fried does return, the uncertainty around Wright’s recovery could still put Atlanta in the market for a back-end rotation starter who is performing at a high level, especially if the second call-up for Michael Soroka doesn’t go as the organization is hoping.
That’s where the Pirates could potentially help the cause by making a trade with the Braves that would send Rich Hill to Atlanta. At 43 years old, Hill is one of the oldest players in the majors, but his performance has remained extremely solid on his one-year contract with Pittsburgh.
The lefty has a 7-7 record on the season with a 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. Those numbers aren’t going to wow anyone, but the Braves aren’t looking for an ace for the staff. Getting Hill on a rental type of trade to come in and be a reliable fifth starter that can win games when the offense is producing at the level we all know they’re capable would be a huge asset for the NL East leaders.
Even better, with Hill’s age and contract expiring after this season, that rental could come at a cost-effective price that the Braves front office would surely be intrigued by.