Braves Rumors: Ranking the 12 best trade targets for Atlanta to pursue

Braves Trade Target No. 2: David Bednar, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Take just about everything that was said about Lange being a long-term solution that Atlanta could explore in a trade to upgrade the bullpen and amplify it tenfold when it comes to Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar.

The bottom has fallen out for the Pirates after a hot start to 2023 and now they are going to be selling once again. Bednar, however, is the white wale. The 28-year-old closer has been elite this season, posting a 1.15 ERA with an 0.95 WHIP over 38 outings. That too is a continuation of the past two years when he had a 2.23 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 2021 and then a 2.61 ERA and 1.12 WHIP last year.

What’s tricky is Bednar’s contract as he’ll just enter the first of three arbitration years in 2024. But that’s also when we’ve seen Alex Anthopoulos like to make big moves, when he can lock up players early on team-friendly extensions. Perhaps Bednar could be that guy as he’d substantially upgrade the bullpen to allow Raisel Iglesias and A.J. Minter to comfortably be set-up guys for a proven closer in Bednar for years to come.

Braves Trade Target No. 1: Josh Hader, RP, San Diego Padres

The case against the San Diego Padres selling at all at the deadline is becoming hard to understand in any capacity. They are still three games under .500 and 10 games out of the NL West lead with the strength at the top of the division.

Even if they don’t go all-out and try to move a piece like Juan Soto, it would behoove the Friars to move expiring contracts like Josh Hader and Blake Snell to get as much value as possible. And with the Braves’ big need in the bullpen, much like Bednar coming in as a new closer, Hader could be the same, just with a bigger name and equally as dominant production.

Hader, who has been near-unhittable with an 0.97 ERA and 0.95 WHIP on the season, is going to have a busy market if he’s available and, as such, could be costly. But if that high trade cost lands the Braves arguably the best closer in baseball, it would be worth it to pay whatever price the Padres are asking should they make him available.