The Atlanta Braves’ lineup isn’t the long, strong force of nature fans watched and loved in 2023. The left side of the infield’s production, Austin Riley's in particular, would fit in a thimble, and aside from Mauricio Dubón, corner outfielders aren’t a lot better. No help is coming as short or third, so outfield bats are a priority.
I’ll mention rentals only in passing, and the understanding that the Angels never trade the players they should.
- Taylor Ward (32) is a rental with about $4.5 million remaining this year; a platoon bat who has hit LHP well this year and isn’t much of a defender.
- Lane Thomas isn’t fitting and isn’t a good defender.
The Braves have a glaring need for a right-handed bat with power. Players fitting that description are as scarce, but I found two options the Braves should consider.
Here are the right-handed bats that should be Braves trade targets
Heliot Ramos (Giants)
Drafted 19th overall in 2017, Ramos (26) hasn’t had the breakout year the club expected, but his career .280/.345/.510/.855 line, .361 wOBA, and a 135 wRC+ make him a viable platoon bat. He’s hitting both sides well this season, with a .300/.340/.560/.900 / 265/.306/.469/.775 L/R split.
Baseball Savant suggests he’d show more power at Truist, and the top of Ramos’ MLB percentile rankings is bright red. However, his defensive stats show he’s not a great defender in left.
Ramos is pre-arb, under team control until 2030, but out of options. The Giants don’t need to move him and won’t give him away. It would likely take a pitcher or two near the bottom of the top-30, and an outfielder like José Azócar, to take his place until the end of the year.
Spencer Steer
Spencer Steer (28) is currently batting .324/.427/.618/1.045 with five homers and a 178+ wRC+ in 83 PA and 266/.354/.477/.832 with 24 homers and 124 wRC+ in 511 career PA against lefties. He’s currently walking at a 15% rate that’s slightly higher and striking out at a 13% rate that’s 6% lower than his career rates. Against RHP, he’s batting .213/.281/.361/.642 with nine homers and 72 wRC+ in 68 PA, down from his career .235/.318/.402/.720, 95 wRC+, six homers a season career average.
Steer is a slightly below-average defender in left and right this season, but his arm should limit him to left. He came up as a first baseman and posted 12 DRS and seven OAA there in 1743 innings since 2024. He also has 288 innings at second, 462 at third, and, I suspect, in an emergency, three innings at short since 2022.
He has roughly $1.3 million remaining, is under control until 2009, and will have two options remaining in 2027. In a subscriber chat for MLBTR, Charlie Wright suggested Steer, …(hasn’t) produced well enough to avoid being a non-tender candidate.” As an everyday, two-way corner outfielder, I agree. However, Steer has the power and on-base stats of a short-side platoon bat and would cost less than Ramos.
Paradoxically, the Reds need an outfielder who can play center or right every day, so Isaiah Drake and a warm body might bring Steer to Atlanta.