The Braves approach the trade deadline with key contributors on the injured list, but if Atlanta gets Max Fried and Ozzie Albies back ahead of October, a successful haul at the deadline could propel them to another World Series.
The pitching staff is good enough, and if a couple of the right bats get hot in the playoffs, anything is possible, but that’s not likely to happen unless the Braves add some significant pieces at the trade deadline.
However, with Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. lost for the season, Alex Anthopoulos probably won’t go “all-in” at the deadline, especially with the Braves weak farm system.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield isn’t buying it, though. The MLB pundit is predicting the Braves to trade for one of the most sought-after outfielders expected to be available — Randy Arozarena.
7. Rays trade Randy Arozarena to Braves
Paredes is having the better season, but he comes with three more years of team control as opposed to two for Arozarena, plus he makes less money ($3.4 million to $8.1 million). With an eye on next year’s payroll, it feels like Tampa Bay is more likely to trade Arozarena, even if he’ll bring less in return. Passan reports that the Rays are in adding and subtracting mode, so they’re probably going to desire prospects close to the majors. The Braves need an outfielder and have pitchers such as Hurston Waldrep and A.J. Smith-Shawver, who already have major league experience (although Waldrep is out with elbow inflammation). Bryce Elder, a 2023 All-Star, has perhaps worn out his welcome in Atlanta with a poor season and could be somebody the Rays’ analytics guys can fix.
The three most attractive aspects of a Randy Arozarena trade are 1) he’s under contract through 2026, 2) the clubhouse presence seems reminiscent of Joc Pederson from 2021, and 3) his track record in October.
In 33 career postseason games, he’s slugging .690 with 11 home runs. Granted, his first half has been dreadful — .209/.315/.392/.707 and 15 homers — but that shouldn’t scare the Braves away.
The Braves not only need a fix in the outfield this year but in 2025 as well. Ronald Acuna Jr. has torn his ACL for the second time in three years and will surely be on some sort of restrictions next season.
There’s a reality where he’s relegated to a designated hitter role, which would make the outfield a glaring need for Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves. As far as the compensation, if Bryce Elder is all it took, I don’t know how a deal doesn’t get done.
In reality, it will likely take a higher-upside prospect like Hurston Waldrep or A.J. Smith-Shawver. Hell, the Rays could take their pick of one of those three, and I would say yes if I were the Braves.
It’s important to remember that prospects are better considered as trade chips than anything else. The hope is that Waldrep and Smith-Shawver will join Spencer Strider at the top of the rotation in the near future, but the reality is much different.
A proven commodity (Randy Arozarena) will always be more valuable than an unproven one (Hurston Waldrep, A.J. Smith-Shawver, or Bryce Elder).
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