Three Braves trade hypotheticals for middle infielders

The trade deadline is a week away, and Braves fans can expect many acquisitions. They may not be of the blockbuster variety, but moves are coming, and this is not a team that is going to sell while leading the Wild Card race in the National League.

If you like looking at things from a glass-half-full perspective, the Braves roster looks absolutely pitiful right now without Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, and Max Fried. However, that also means there is no shortage of areas for Alex Anthopoulos to upgrade.

Bringing in a couple of outfielders shouldn’t be difficult at all, and it will not cost much in terms of prospects. After that, expect Alex Anthopoulos to take a long look at the middle infield. Nacho Alvarez is a promising prospect, but at the very least, the Braves should add insurance in case he struggles mightily, but the bigger issue may be across from him at shortstop. Orlando Arcia has been an offensive zero. His defense remains a plus, but it hasn’t been enough to make up for how abysmal he has been with the stick.

Braves Trade For Amed Rosario

Braves get Amed Rosario

Rays get Allan Winans

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Currently sitting at 51-51, the Rays may just decide to stand pat at the trade deadline, but if they decide to sell their spare parts for whatever they can get, Rosario has to be on the Braves’ radar. He can play both middle infield positions, and while he’s not outstanding defensively, he’s an elite contact bat that is hitting over .300 in 72 games this season. It shouldn’t take much of anything to acquire him, and Winans could be viewed as an overpay, but Rosario is a guy I would love to have in the mix if the Rays are willing to move him.

Braves Trade For Paul DeJong

Braves get Paul DeJong

White Sox get Seth Keller

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Unlike the Rays, there are no questions about whether the White Sox will be selling. They are the worst team in baseball, and DeJong is on a one-year, $1.75 million contract. He might as well already have one foot out the door, and the Braves should be among the top teams interested. DeJong can provide above average defense at shortstop, and while he struggles to get on base just like Orlando Arcia, he offers much more pop, evident in his 17 homers this season in just 97 games. This seems like another rather obvious fit that shouldn’t cost the Braves much at all in terms of prospects.

Braves Trade For Bo Bichette

Braves get Bo Bichette

Blue Jays get Drue Hackenberg and Isaiah Drake

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The Blue Jays are in a pickle in regards to Bo Bichette. They need to kickstart a rebuild, and normally, moving Bichette would go a long way in doing that. However, he’s amid a career-worst season and was recently placed on the IL with a calf strain that will force him to miss multiple weeks.

I don’t know how interested the Braves would be in acquiring yet another injured player. With that being said, if they believe in Bichette’s abilities, this is the best time to buy low on a two-time All-Star that’s still just 26-years-old and comes with another season of control. I don’t think the Blue Jays could get much more than this for his services. Hackenberg is a promising young arm that projects as someone that could be a middle of the rotation starting pitcher, and Isaiah Drake might be the most athletic prospect in the entire Braves system, but he’s ways away from contributing at the major-league level and needs a lot of development.

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