With each passing day, we are closer to a much different-looking Braves roster. This is a club that, due to injuries, has some glaring holes. Most teams wouldn’t stand a chance after losing the reigning NL MVP and pre-season Cy Young favorite for the season, but the Braves can’t waste this opportunity with a championship-caliber rotation and bullpen. All they need is a little more offense, and that’s what Alex Anthopoulos will focus on over the next couple of weeks.
Back in 2021, the last time the Braves lost Ronald Acuña Jr. for the season, Anthopoulos swung four trades for outfielders on expiring contracts. It cost the Braves next to nothing, and they went on to win the World Series. Following that blueprint would be nice, but it isn’t that easy. The market will likely determine the route Alex Anthopoulos takes this year, and it could present the Braves with an opportunity to swing something much bigger.
Braves Acquire Brent Rooker
The fact that Brent Rooker hit 21 homers with a .942 OPS over the first half of the season and wasn’t recognized as an All-Star is everything that’s wrong with the All-Star game, but I digress. The Oakland Athletics slugger is more of a DH than an outfielder, but that’s what they said about Jorge Soler before he was acquired by the Braves in 2021. The Braves need offense, and from a purely offensive perspective, there may not be a better outfield option available at this year’s trade deadline.
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Hypothetical Trade
Braves get Brent Rooker
Athletics get Hurston Waldrep, Owen Murphy, and Cade Kuehler
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In this deal, the Braves are giving up three of their top pitching prospects. It’s a big package, but it’s probably going to take something like this to get a guy who has been among the best offensive players in the league this season and comes with three more years of control.
Rooker’s control will be highly coveted by a lot of clubs, but I actually think it kind of works against the Braves because he doesn’t really fit defensively, and they can’t use him as a DH. Marcell Ozuna cannot play the outfield, and the Braves will likely pick up his option for next season. Atlanta also has to consider the health of Acuña, who they may also want to DH next season. Throw Rooker into the mix, and the Braves will be arriving at the ballpark with three DHs on the roster next year. Alex Anthopoulos would have to really believe in Rooker being able to play left field to swing a deal for him.
Braves Acquire Garrett Crochet
Braves get Garrett Crochet
White Sox get Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, Owen Murphy, and Nacho Alvarez
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The idea that the Braves don’t have enough firepower to swing a blockbuster trade is one of the biggest lies told on the internet. Atlanta has one of the best trade chips in all of baseball in Spencer Schwellenbach if they wanted to get creative. The 24-year-old has had a remarkable rise over the last year since returning from Tommy John surgery and is now establishing himself as a staple of the Braves rotation. He looks like a guy that could potentially be a frontline starter very soon. Which is why this deal would be a tough pill to swallow, but let’s consider what the Braves are getting in return.
Garrett Crochet is one of the best pitchers in baseball. He currently leads the AL in strikeouts, K/9, and FIP. He’s also under contract through the 2026 season. Crochet would give the Braves the best rotation in baseball by a country mile, and he could replace Max Fried at a fraction of the price in 2025 and 2026.
Braves Acquire Bo Bichette
Braves get Bo Bichette
Blue Jays get Nacho Alvarez and Drue Hackenberg
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This time last year, the Blue Jays would have laughed in the face of Alex Anthopoulos if he had come calling with this offer. Now, they might think long and hard about it. Bichette’s been miserable for Toronto this year, hitting just .222 with four homers over 78 games. That’s about as abysmal as Orlando Arcia, but Bichette is a below average defensive shortstop. In fact, he’s probably best suited for a position change.
In a trade like this, the Braves would really be relying on their ability to get the most out of players offensively. They’ve done it time and time again, and there are no questions about Bichette’s talent. He’s only 26 years old and is a two-time All-Star. He’s never going to be outstanding defensively, but can he be good enough offensively to make up for some of those defensive warts?
I have my doubts, but I also have my doubts about Nacho Alvarez. I don’t think he’s ready to be a major-leaguer yet and should spend at least the rest of the season in Gwinnett. The power surge he’s experienced since being promoted to AAA is not sustainable, and he’ll likely come back down to earth. There are also questions about his defensive ability at shortstop. This could be a wonderful time to sell high on him as a prospect. Although, I’m not sure Bichette is the guy worth moving him for.
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Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire
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