With the first half of the MLB season in the books, things on the trade front will really start to heat up over the next couple of weeks. Many of the teams expected to be buyers lived up to the hype in the first half like the Dodgers, Astros, Padres and White Sox. Others like the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and Washington Nationals have fizzled and are now stuck with some tough decisions to make.
The Braves sit at 44-45 overall which isn't great but in the NL East, it means they're only 4 games back of the Mets for first place. With superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. going down for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, life for Atlanta will be that much more difficult.
Atlanta could be active at the MLB Trade Deadline but they will need to figure out first if they will buy or sell, given where they are overall and with the news of Acuna Jr. being done for the year. Here are three trades the Braves must make after Ronald Acuna Jr. tore his ACL.
Trade for: Kris Bryant
The Chicago Cubs are in a free fall after a 42-33 start to the season. Interestingly enough, they got to that 42nd win by throwing a combined no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since that victory, the Cubbies are 2-13. They will no doubt be selling at the deadline with plenty of their big name players set to hit free agency at the end of the year. It's the perfect opportunity for a team like the Braves to pounce.
Kris Bryant is having a phenomenal season and was putting up MVP type numbers in the first month or so of the season. Like many of the Cubs' top players, Bryant would be a rental for the Braves which makes this a little dicey. Yes, Atlanta is a game below .500 but if they still have aspirations of competing for a postseason spot, acquiring Bryant would help them immensely in the absence of Acuna Jr.
There won't be many, if any players as versatile as Bryant available at the MLB Trade Deadline. He can play either corner outfield spot and either corner infield spot as well. His 16 home runs along with his .353 OBP and his ability to flex in plenty of positions defensively have helped land Bryant in Coors Field for the MLB All-Star Game this year.
It's likely the Braves would push hard for an extension if they acquire Bryant but again, if the mindset and the goal is to buy and still compete in 2021, Bryant would be absolutely perfect for Atlanta and they can capitalize on a Cubs team that will be having a fire sale.
Trade for: Joey Gallo
There weren't high expectations for the Texas Rangers this season and thank goodness that was the case because they have been putrid all year.
Texas is 35-55 and in dead last in the AL West at the break. While it was expected to be a down year, the record and where the Rangers are at with their rebuilding of the roster could lead them to send off a big piece like Joey Gallo at the MLB Trade Deadline.
Gallo also is super versatile and can play anywhere in the outfield along with the corner spots in the infield. The one kicker to keep in mind with Gallo that could make him more appealing to a team like the Braves is his contract. Gallo is under contract through next season as well so if Atlanta wants to dip their toes in and try to keep the train moving for 2021 but also have an eye looking ahead, Gallo could be the target for him.
The Rangers star is having one of his typical season where he strikes out a ton but is hitting plenty of moonshot home runs that have landed him as an all-star and a participant in the 2021 Home Run Derby. One thing that needs to be talked about more with Gallo is how great he's been at getting on base this season.
Gallo leads all of baseball with 72 walks so far this season and he has a staggering OBP of .402. Sure, he strikes out at one of the highest rates in baseball and the average isn't pretty but, Gallo gets on base a ton. With the potential to have him in Atlanta for this year and next, the Braves could flex their muscles in sliding in to the frame and acquiring Gallo.
The first order of business is for Atlanta to assess their situation at the break and see what route they want to go. If they sell, they won't be blamed as they are under .500 and just lost their best player for the remainder of the year. If they buy, it will be because they are only 4 games back of the Mets and still believe in a lineup that has Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and others to help carry the weight the rest of the way.
Follow Us
Subscribe