It’s trade season, and I’ve begun some trade hypotheticals involving the Braves and the top names at position of need. If you missed the first few of those, follow the links below.
Among potential outfielders available, Taylor Ward makes a lot of sense for several reasons. The Angels will undoubtedly sell; it would be a shock if Ward was still on the team after the trade deadline. He also helps fix arguably the Braves biggest need being an offensive first outfielder.Â
Braves Hypothetical Trade For Taylor Ward
Braves get Taylor Ward
Angels get AJ Smith-Shawver
The Angels have needed pitching for as long as I can remember. AJ Smith-Shawver would instantly become one of the best pitchers in the organization. He might not quite fit their timeline, given he’s MLB ready right now and the Angels won’t be ready to compete for at least a few years. So, perhaps Los Angeles would rather have a couple of younger arms for Ward’s services, which the Braves could oblige as well.
Either way, this would be a pretty solid deal for Atlanta. Smith-Shawver’s value may never be higher. He’s shown some flashes at the maj0r-league level, but there’s no telling whether he’ll become a staple in the rotation. In return, the Braves receive a proven outfielder that’s posted a .775 OPS and 115 OPS+ (15% above league average) since 2021. Taylor Ward is also under contract through 2026, so he would sure up the Braves outfield for several years, which has to be of interest to Alex Anthopoulos because of the uncertainty surrounding Ronald Acuña Jr.
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Photographer: John Cordes/Icon Sportswire
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