The Braves are good for one blockbuster trade every offseason.
Last year, it was Chris Sale. The year before, it was Sean Murphy, and following their World Series run, it was Matt Olson. Alex Anthopoulos clearly prefers the path of acquiring stars via trade rather than getting in bidding wars in free agency.
If trends continue, we are in store for another marquee acquisition. Many Braves fans have their eyes on Willy Adames in free agency to replace Orlando Arcia, but what about a Max Fried replacement on the trade market?
Garrett Crochet is 25 years old and comes with multiple years of team control at an extraordinarily palatable contract. However, more importantly for Alex Anthopoulos than all of that is that Crochet wants to sign a contract extension.
And what better place to get traded and sign an extension than Atlanta? Alex Anthopoulos has done it with Olson, Murphy, Sale, Joe Jimenez, and Pierce Johnson. The blueprint has been laid, and one MLB executive believes there isn’t a more appealing choice for Crochet than signing an extension with the Braves.
“Sox would rather put him in the NL,” the exec said. “Wouldn’t rule out other big-market clubs. Where Garrett wants to sign an extension is a factor and would think Atlanta is the most appealing landing spot for him long term.”
The Braves have already struck a deal with the White Sox, so Anthopoulos and Chris Getz have a working relationship, and as Jesse Rogers writes, Crochet would seemingly replace Max Fried.
“Members of our panel who picked the Braves see Crochet as a replacement if Fried leaves in free agency. Atlanta and Chicago already have connected on trades since Chris Getz took over as White Sox GM, which could help in laying the groundwork of a deal this winter.”
It’s not going to be cheap to pry Crochet away from Chicago. It will cost considerable prospect capital, but for a proven commodity that is willing to sign an extension, it’s worth serious consideration.
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Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire
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