Coming into the second half of the season, the Braves’ trade deadline targets were quite clear; however, they have shifted dramatically in the last 48 hours or so.
Alex Anthopoulos was expected to target one or multiple outfielders as the primary focus, with the rotation and shortstop positions being secondary areas of need. That may not be the case any longer.
First, Max Fried was placed on the injured list with a forearm injury. Then, Ozzie Albies joined him with a broken wrist. Atlanta has signed Whit Merrifield and called up one of their top prospects in Nacho Alvarez in the wake of Albies’ injury.
Ideally, the Braves get the same production from Alvarez that they were getting from Albies, but Anthopoulos may have to find a middle infielder at the trade deadline if Alvarez isn’t quite ready for the show. So now, a middle infielder could be a priority whereas it wasn’t before Sunday.
Moreover, the Braves fielded three All-Stars from the rotation for the first time in about two decades. It was a primary reason why I expected Anthopoulos to be aggressive at the trade deadline because when a team has Max Fried, Chris Sale, and Reynaldo Lopez as their 1-2-3, they have a chance in October.
That was yesterday’s thinking. Today, Fried is on the shelf for what should be considered an indefinite period because there’s no telling what his timeline looks like as he nurses a forearm injury. Yesterday, the Braves could’ve used another starter to bolster the backend of the rotation. Today, they need one.
That also doesn’t exclude the outfield, which hasn’t become less of a need at the trade deadline. The Braves still have to acquire at least one starting-caliber outfielder in the next week or so. Alex Anthopoulos isn’t going to get much sleep over the 10 days, and that’s because he’s going to do everything in his power to get this team whole. There’s no scenario where this Atlanta Braves team sells at the trade deadline.
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Photo: David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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