We are nearing the end of this series where I come up with two hypothetical blockbuster trades with each division. The AL West will be one of the more competitive divisions in baseball, especially after the Rangers went on a shopping spree this offseason, but there are still a handful of All-Star caliber players available via trade this offseason.
If you missed the previous parts of this series, click the links below:
Matt Olson
Since the A’s hate paying their players, they are always willing to make a trade, and Olson is a name that has already been connected to the Braves. He has two years remaining on his contract and is coming off a season where he was an All-Star and finished 8th in the AL MVP race. If the Braves lose out on the Freddie Freeman sweepstakes this offseason, you can bet Alex Anthopoulos will be in a hurry to try and work out a deal for Olson, but he will cost a pretty penny prospect-wise.
Braves trade Michael Harris, Freddy Tarnok, and Kyle Muller to the Athletics for Matt Olson
This is one of those trades where it really depends how high you are on Michael Harris. He’s received all the hype in the world over the last couple of seasons, and his upside is undeniable, but he has still yet to even reach the AA level. Who knows if he will continue to have tremendous success as he joins the upper levels of the minors. I do, however, believe that Harris would be enough to pique the A’s interest. By many outlets, he’s the Braves’ top prospect. But given how many talented outfield prospects Atlanta already has in their farm system, Harris is somewhat expendable. For a talent like Olson, who could end up being the Braves’ long-term answer at first base, it might be worth the risk.
Frankie Montas
I’ll be sticking with the Oakland Athletics again for my second hypothetical trade because I think they will be wheeling and dealing once the lockout ends. Montas is one of three starting pitchers I could see the A’s trading before the start of next season, along with Sean Manaea and Chris Bassitt. However, I decided to go with Montas because he is controllable for one more season after 2022. The 28-year-old was stellar last season for the A’s, recording a 3.37 ERA, 1.182 WHIP, and 10.0 K/9 over 187 innings. His presence would give the Braves one of the more feared rotations in baseball.
Braves trade Tucker Davidson, Huascar Ynoa, and Jared Shuster to the Athletics for Frankie Montas
I like this trade a lot for both sides. The Braves get a starting arm that will make life easier for their entire pitching staff over the next two seasons, and the A’s receive major-league talent that is ready to contribute right away. More than likely, Oakland is looking to retool rather than rebuild, and this trade will allow them to do that. Muller and Ynoa could both be fixtures in their rotation for the next five-plus years, and Shuster is no chump either. The 2020 first-round pick performed well in A+ ball and could be just a couple of years away from the majors.
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