At this point, the Braves probably aren’t going to be making a trade anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t snag someone off a 40-man roster for cash or off waivers. Alex Anthopoulos has made chicken salad out of chicken scratch a few times with this strategy, and they’re very low-risk moves.
I already covered five NL targets yesterday, so today, we’ll focus on the AL. Unsurprisingly, these are mostly going to be American League Central teams, because every other team in the American League besides the A’s is still in the thick of things. That doesn’t mean they won’t sell off someone for cash, but the targets here make sense.
RHP Zach Plesac — Cleveland Guardians
Plesac has had a rough go of things in the majors this year, but he has been fantastic in AAA and has had success in the majors in the past. In AAA, Plesac has a 1.64 ERA over 11 innings. Maybe he just needs a fresh start, but this move makes a ton of sense for the Braves. The downside is minimal, and he might be able to give Atlanta some quality innings, even if they have to throw in a low-level prospect or two.
LHP Austin Cox — Kansas City Royals
The Mercer alum is having a solid season in AAA with a 3.81 ERA over 28.1 innings, and the Braves could look to give the lefty a shot to fill the void left by Max Fried in the rotation for a few months. Cox has been used mostly as a starter, so the Braves don’t have to worry about stretching him out. With the Royals not contending, they could look to recoup a little on Cox.
RHP Davis Martin — Chicago White Sox
The 26-year-old Martin has had some troubles in the majors, but he has been good in AAA this year. The White Sox may be selling anything that isn’t tied down, and they make for an interesting partner with the Braves if they want to grab someone for cheap.
RHP Jesse Scholtens — Chicago White Sox
At 29-years-old with a 3.99 ERA in AAA, the White Sox may just take anything they can get for Scholtens. He has only appeared in two MLB games, but he consistently pitches over 100 innings and hasn’t been roughed up too much.
RHP Zach Thompson — Toronto Blue Jays
Although they’re contending, the Jays may be willing to come off of Thompson, who is struggling. He’s a veteran that can eat innings in a pinch, and the Braves could probably get him for next to nothing.
—
Photographer:Â Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.