A lot has happened over the last few days for the Braves, and none of it has been good. On Monday, it was announced Joe Jimenez could miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing knee surgery. Then, yesterday, Alex Anthopoulos confirmed Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider will not be ready for Opening Day.
In the span of a couple of days, the Braves’ simple, cut-and-dry offseason just became much more complex. They have a lot of holes they need to address to get back into World Series contention, and unlike the Dodgers, the Braves don’t have limitless funds to spend in free agency. Which is why Alex Anthopoulos generally prefers to go the trade route rather than participate in bidding wars for the top guys on the free agent market.
There are a lot of potential Braves trade targets that fill positions of need this offseason, but two names that can be crossed off the list are Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette and outfielder/DH Brent Rooker.
At the annual GM meetings, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the answer is “an easy no” when teams call Toronto asking about the availability of Bichette.
Ross Atkins told me his answer is “an easy no” to any trade inquiries on Bo Bichette. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 5, 2024
Bo Bichette being unavailable in trade talks is far more surprising than the Athletics holding onto Rooker. Mostly, because the Blue Jays are a terrible team heading nowhere fast, and Bichette is only under contract for one more season. The Blue Jays probably should have traded him a year ago. Instead, they continue to hold onto him, and for what, because it’s certainly not helping them be competitive after finishing last in the AL East this year.
Brent Rooker being off the table is much more understandable. “We’re going to keep (Rooker),” A’s GM David Forst responded when asked about his availability.
Brent Rooker trade speculation ended today. A’s GM David Forst: “ We’re going to keep (Rooker)”.”
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 5, 2024
The A’s, while far from a World Series contender, took a baby step in the right direction last season, and Rooker was a primary reason for that. Every club with an opening in the outfield or at DH would have been interested in his services, but Oakland has time to let things play out. Rooker is under team control for three more seasons, so rushing into a trade wouldn’t make a ton of sense, unless they were offered a king’s ransom in return.
The Braves will have to look elsewhere on the trade market to fill their needs at shortstop and in the outfield.
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Photographer: Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire
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