With the trade deadline on July 30th, Braves trade rumors are heating up. The Braves front office has plenty of work to do if they are to live up to the lofty preseason expectations.
Atlanta is without Marcell Ozuna for the foreseeable future following his arrest on domestic violence charges. Their rotation has been more miss than hit. Mike Soroka’s status is uncertain for this campaign.
Only six teams are conceding more runs per game. None are even close to contending. Sitting eighth in runs scored is keeping the Braves in the mix in the competitive, if low standard, National League East.
Sitting below .500, these Braves are in for a pivotal few weeks. They could fall out of contention by the trade deadline. They might be top of the division. The Atlanta front office has been relatively cautious in recent seasons even when there are some outlandish Braves trade rumors. Perhaps that will change in 2021.
This team needs tweaks. Soroka is joined by Huascar Ynoa and Travis d’Arnaud on the injured list. Cristian Pache has struggled mightily as an MLB hitter. Veteran signings Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly have not worked out as planned.
Braves trade rumors
Still with plenty of prospects, most Braves trade rumors are justifiable. They have the capital to swing a deal for All-Star-level talent.
The bullpen has only been around league-average, but there’s enough quality there to expect improvement. Another starter would be a massive boost. A corner outfielder would change things significantly.
Calling the Texas Rangers seems like a good idea. As mentioned on the latest episode of Talk Baseball, Kyle Gibson and Joey Gallo to Atlanta is a great fit. Gibson is on the IL at the time of writing, and Gallo isn’t having his best season, but they both tick the boxes for how the Braves like to do things.
Gibson is low-risk, owed under $8 million next season. Gallo provides elite outfield defense, positional versatility and a great eye. The prospect cost will be relatively high, but the extra year of club control serves as insurance against this season falling flat.
Atlanta has the reigning MVP and one of the favorites this season in Freddie Freeman and Ronald Acuna Jr. Austin Riley has developed into a great hitter. The offense and rotation are just two or three players away from being special.
Possible Braves trades
The Braves have shied away from giving up much at the deadline in recent seasons. That needs to change in 2021 given where this roster stands, and how competitive the Mets are proving to be.
With Drew Waters and many more desirable prospects, potential Braves trades are plentiful. Most front offices will be interested in a deal with Atlanta.
Rebuilders like the Rockies and Diamondbacks have pieces who could help. German Marquez or Jon Gray would be a welcome addition to the rotation. The price would be high for Ketel Marte, but it’s worth considering if they can keep Waters and Pache.
Teams like the Orioles and Tigers don’t have as much to offer. It’s worth checking Baltimore’s asking price for John Means, however, and checking to see if the Mariners are considering flipping veterans like Yusei Kikuchi and Mitch Haniger.
Some of these names will never appear in Braves trade rumors. Others could be pulling on a new jersey by August. Unless their season falls apart in the coming weeks, it’s crucial the Braves are aggressive at the trade deadline. A couple of additions could change their season, and there’s no doubt this roster is good enough to warrant win-now moves.
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