The Braves are likely to be very active during this year’s trade deadline and the summer months leading up to it. A couple of teams are potentially punting on the season, and a few names on this list from The Athletic make sense for the Braves.
Most front offices want to give their teams until at least Memorial Day to figure out who they really are, before getting involved in serious trade discussions.
So when trades start to flow, which teams could make the first moves?@JimBowdenGM analyzes:https://t.co/dE4F8f1z9C
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 8, 2023
There are some unexpected players on this list, including several members of the White Sox, who were expected to compete in a weak AL Central. I have already talked about some of their players I could see as trade targets for the Braves. Here are some other guys I could see the Braves being interested in:
RHP Lucas Giolito — Chicago White Sox
Giolito was in danger of being out of the league going into 2019 after giving up the most earned runs and walks in baseball. He found something out and has even placed in the top ten for Cy Young voting a few times. Giolito is having a decent 2023 campaign; his numbers are mostly inflated by one bad start against the Pirates in his second outing of the season. He would be a rock-solid anchor to a rotation that needs some stability, and Giolito hasn’t pitched less than 161 innings (excluding the COVID year) since 2017. He would be a rental, so the Braves need to be sure he’s going to be effective leading up to the trade deadline.
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez — Detroit Tigers
The Braves have dealt with a lot of injuries to their rotation early in the season. They could use another starter, and I could see them making a big move — especially if Max Fried‘s rumored injury is serious. Rodriguez makes a lot of sense, boasting a 1.81 ERA over seven starts. His 3.31 FIP means he’ll likely face some regression, but there’s no doubt that he’s a solid enough option for a fifth starter. The biggest hurdle is probably the three years and $49 million he has left on his deal.
OF Joc Pederson — San Francisco Giants
I won’t say too much about this because Joc is one of my favorite Braves ever and would be an electric addition to a playoff push. He was one of the big reasons the Braves turned things around in 2021 and won a World Series, providing energy in the clubhouse and numerous clutch hits. He would be a rental (again), but he has a .730 OPS on the season and could be a good platoon bat if the Braves decide they need one.
RHP Brad Keller — Kansas City Royals
Drafted out of Flowery Branch High School, a homecoming for Keller could make sense with his acumen as an innings eater. He probably wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, and he’s a rental. If the Braves need someone to give them some quality innings for a low cost down the stretch, I could easily see Keller being a guy they go after.
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Photo: : David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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