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The Atlanta Braves have been baseball's hottest team lately, as they are currently rolling to the tune of a 12-game winning streak. Unfortunately, the Braves were dealt a tough blow amidst the hot stretch, as star second baseman Ozzie Albies went down with an injury during Monday's victory over the Washington Nationals.
Albies suffered a fractured left foot during the contest, an injury that will cost him a significant portion of the season. On Tuesday afternoon, the Braves placed the All-Star second baseman on the 60-day injured list, calling up infielder Phil Gosselin from Triple A-Gwinnett to take his place on the roster.
There's no replacing Albies, who clubbed 30 homers while stealing 20 bases this past season. However, the Braves, who have limited infield depth, owe it to this roster to try. This winning streak has seen them rise all the way to second place in the National League East, just five games back of the New York Mets.
There's no telling when Albies will return, which is a huge blow to Atlanta's playoff hopes. A team that just shipped away a few of their top prospects for first baseman Matt Olson has no business blowing up the farm simply for a quick solution to the absence of Albies.
However, Atlanta also might miss the All-Star's production more than they think. While there are some internal options, such as Gosselin and the likes of Orlando Arcia and Pat Valaika, the Braves could also look to the trade market for sensible replacements.
Here are three players the Braves must trade for following the Albies injury.
3 Players Braves Must Trade For After Ozzie Albies Injury
3. Brandon Drury (Reds)
Brandon Drury of the Cincinnati Reds, a free agent-to-be after the 2022 season, is quietly putting together an excellent campaign. Drury, 29, has posted a .860 OPS with 12 homers, 33 RBI and 39 runs scored for a Cincinnati team with a 22-39 record.
The Reds, who are clearly rebuilding after trading the likes of Sonny Gray and Jesse Winker while letting Nick Castellanos walk, won't be retaining Drury this offseason. That will work to the Braves' benefit.
Drury can play second, third and can also play the outfield. That positional versatility would help Braves manager Brian Snitker get creative with the lineups in Albies' absence.
Drury's bat would also help to make up for the offense lost by Albies, who, even in a bit of a down year, remains an offensive force.
2. Harold Castro (Tigers)
Detroit Tigers utility Harold Castro would be another sensible Albies replacement for the Braves. Castro, 28, is batting .295 this season- and has hit .292 for his five-year-career.
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The Braves, who have posted the third-worst strikeout rate in the league in 2022, would benefit from Castro's above-average 18.7 percent K rate. In a league plagued by low batting average, Castro's ability to put the ball in play would be a welcome addition to the Braves' lineup.
The Venezuelan native has also shown some power potential this season, having posted a career high barrel rate while placing in the 93rd percentile in expected slugging.
While those numbers don't predict future success, they do show that Castro is seeing the ball very well for the 24-36 Tigers. He's also been a fine defender, committing just three errors in 102 1/3 innings across third base, shortstop, second base, first base and in the outfield.
Castro is a jack of all trades. He would instantly boost the Braves' infield depth while also helping to serve as a fill-in for Albies.
1. Whit Merrifield (Royals)
All signs are pointing to the Kansas City Royals being sellers at the MLB trade deadline. The Royals are currently 20-40, yet they have talented veterans, like Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi, who should all attract interest on the trade market.
The Braves should be interested in Merrifield, who had his contract restructured by the team this offseason. At 33, Merrifield likely isn't in the long-term plans for Kansas City. However, the two-time All-Star is under team control through 2023 with a mutual option for 2024, which could make him a bit more difficult to acquire.
The Royals star, who can play both second base and the outfield, would make too much sense for the Braves to acquire. Merrifield, who has struggled to a .227 batting average thus far, has hit .286 for his seven-year career.
His 13 percent strikeout rate, which ranks as one of the best marks in the league, would be an excellent addition to a Braves' batting order that whiffs far too much.
Plus, when Albies returns, Merrifield can shift to the outfield. This is a trade that could make the Braves better now without Albies- and in the next couple years as well.
