Braves Rumors: Cubs trade, Vaughn Grissom targeted, Duvall’s conflict of interest

Braves Rumors: Is there potential holdup with Adam Duvall interest?

The Braves are expected to have interest in Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall, who spent 1.5 seasons with Atlanta from 2021-22. He won the World Series with the Braves and will forever have the heart of the fanbase, but there could be one factor preventing a reunion.

Any Duvall trade is expected to revolve around Atlanta sending bullpen depth to the Red Sox, who desperately need healthy arms. The Braves’ bullpen need is less desperate, but as all these rumors strongly indicate, the Braves are keen on bolstering their own pitching rotation ahead of the playoffs.

With so many injuries to the current group, even the arrival of Taylor Hearn and Pierce Johnson isn’t enough to assuage the concerns of Alex Anthopoulos entirely. If Atlanta is asked to part with significant pitching talent to acquire Duvall, that could end up being a non-starter.

On the other hand, Duvall played the best baseball of his career with Atlanta and his bat would be of undeniable utility. The most probable outcome, as Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors points out, would be the right-handed Duvall forming a left field platoon with Eddie Rosario, who bats left-handed. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II are unlikely to concede their spots in the outfield.

Duvall is splitting .259/.329/.511 for the season with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 139 at-bats. He can still provide a power surge in the Braves’ lineup and he’s a former Gold Glove winner from that magical 2021 season.