We aren’t even a week into the season, and some MLB teams are already gearing up for next year. Because of that, the trade deadline could be particularly exciting this year, with many high profile players switching teams.
One MLB pundit has already predicted that Mike Trout will finish the season as a member of the Braves. That doesn’t seem like the typical Alex Anthopoulos special, but perhaps exceptions can be made for the best player of this generation.
Trout is just one of many star players that could be on the move, though. Over at Bleacher Report, Zachary D. Rymer came up with his list of the 10 best trade chips of the 2024 season, naming the Braves potential suitors for a couple of elite talents not named Mike Trout.
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10. Devin Williams
8. David Bednar
6. Shane Bieber
5. Willy Adames (Braves target)
4. Ha-Seong Kim (Braves target)
3. Pete Alonso
2. Luis Arraez
1. Jesus Luzardo
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If the Braves have any holes, they haven’t been on display during the first week of the season. The rotation is as deep as any in baseball, and the bullpen is just as ferocious. However, as the saying goes, you can never have enough pitching. The Braves have watched their rotation fall short due to injuries in each of the last two postseasons, which is why Alex Anthopoulos made pitching depth a priority this offseason. Right now, there are no clear needs, but a lot can change over the next few months.
From a position player perspective, it’s evident Rymer feels the one obvious place the Braves can upgrade is at shortstop. I tend to agree based on the way Orlando Arcia ended last season; however, he was an NL All-Star at the midway point last year and is off to another torrid start, hitting .438 with four doubles over the first four games. Perhaps the Braves could do better than Arcia, but when your weakest link is making All-Star Games, it’s difficult to justify trading away top prospects for an upgrade that may not even be that significant.
The Braves have a roster that should have the entire league jealous. Their pitching depth seems endless, and their lineup has been the best in baseball by a wide margin dating back to last year. Alex Anthopoulos has never been one to sit on his hands, always looking to improve the roster, but I’m not sure he’s going to have to do much at this year’s trade deadline.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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