Atlanta Braves: 5 Burning Questions for Rest of 2015

Mar 11, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves fans check out items that are up for auction during a spring training baseball game at Champion Stadium. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Q1:  Buyers or Sellers?

What a difference a week makes!  Braves were just 2 games out of 1st place… but now, without Freddie Freeman, the team is struggling to score any runs at all… and his absence will continue for multiple weeks.  The deficit to Washington is already at 6 games, and with the Nats coming to Atlanta this week, the potential exists to put the Braves into a really deep hole.

The Wild Card race is getting bad as well:  The Cubs have been fading a bit – losing 5 straight, but they just played the Dodgers and Cardinals.  Even the lowly Diamondbacks have now passed Atlanta, leaving the Braves essentially tied with the Padres for the 9th best record in the 15-team National League (5.5 behind the Giants for the last Wild Card spot).

We have covered this topic at length already – and will continue to do so – but it is an on-going fair question to ask.  At last look, it was reasonable to consider “buys”.  Not so much any more… but when and who?

• It’s an open secret that they wish to move Chris Johnson… but that’s becoming more difficult by the day, particularly given his lack of consistent playing time.
• Julio Teheran has a team-friendly contract that  runs through 2019 (with a 2020 option).  Normally, teams would kill each other to get in line for a young controllable frontline starting pitcher like him. Normally, the Braves wouldn’t even consider trading him. But his 2015 road performance has certainly tarnished that.  Should he be moved… and if so, when?
• There are several role players on the club that have some minor value:  Jonny Gomes, Kelly Johnson, anyone in the bullpen.

Normally, the off-season is the better time to assess one’s team and to make trades.  If you’re thinking “combo platter” with regards to buying and selling, then perhaps the “sell” appetizer comes in July with the “buy” entree during the off-season.

Regardless, I think we’ve already seen enough to know that the John Trust running the Braves can and will execute a trade at any time for any reason, so long as it builds the club for the future.

Next: The Fickle Finger of Fredi's Fate