The Atlanta Braves currently sit at 40-42 for the 2015 season – five games out of first place in the NL East and five games out of the NL Wild Card. Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is set for Friday, July 31st. The large question cloud sitting over the Braves is will they be buyers, sellers or both at the trade deadline.
As they sit on July 5, the Braves are very much still alive. If the team can continue to stick around the .500 mark before Freddie Freeman returns from his hand injury, this team could get hot when he’s back.
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Atlanta’s next few opponents prior to the deadline are the Brewers, Rockies, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, Orioles and Phillies. In the 21 games till the deadline, nine of them are against teams under .500 in 2015 (as of July 5). I’m thinking the stretch of Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals and Orioles will hurt pretty bad.
As we inch closer to the deadline, the Braves will have to consider moving players to help the future (a theme for this season and John Hart). A name that will most likely come up often is…Cameron Maybin.
The 28-year-old grew up in Asheville, North Carolina and has become a fan favorite in Atlanta. Maybin was part of the deal that sent Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton to the San Diego Padres. His current slash line is .295/.364/.418 and has been electric at the plate with runners in scoring position. Maybin finally looks like the prospect scouts thought he would be when the Detroit Tigers drafted him in 2005 with the 10th pick in the draft.
“To be able to be close to home—my mom, my father, family and friends—it’s been a new-found energy, as well as being healthy has been a big part of it,” Maybin recently told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I’m having a blast playing here. We will see what happens, but I am really enjoying my time here.”
If these last eight months have taught us anything, it’s that the Braves front office and President of Baseball Operations, John Hart, are all about business and the future of this organization. They aren’t afraid to move a top player or a fan favorite.
Buster Olney is reporting that the San Francisco Giants are interested in Maybin…
SF has looked for OF help. Some players discussed, among others, Cameron Maybin and Gerardo Parra. 12 HR for the SF outfielders in '15.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 6, 2015
Personally, I don’t want to see Maybin moved. He’s signed for another year and a team option in 2017 with a pretty decent contract. $8M in 2016, $9M in 2017. Maybin has brought a spark to this team that no one really expected.
BUT, what if the Braves could get something really good for him in return?
The Giants top prospect is Andrew Susac. He’s a 25-year-old catcher from Roseville, California that is currently playing on the major league team. He’s been blocked at the catcher position because of Buster Posey, but Bruce Bochy has moved Brandon Belt to left field and Posey to first base to let Susac play catcher. Susac would be amazing to get from the Giants, but it’s not happening.
San Francisco is known for developing pitching and their list of top prospects looks to be full once again. According to MLB.com, 19 of their top 30 players are pitchers. Lots of good arms at the top of this list that the Braves could be extremely happy about.
Kyle Crick, Keury Mella, Tyler Beede, Steven Okert, Adalberto Mejia, Ty Blach, Luis Ysla, Clayton Blackburn and Hunter Strickland are all in the Giants top 10.
Another name the Braves could be interested in would be Aramis Garcia. He’s a 6’2″, 220 pound catcher that was drafted in 2014 in the 2nd round from Florida International University. He hit very well in college .368/.442/.626, but struggled last season at the plate as well as early in 2015. The reports I found are that he’s an average defensive catcher and his plus side is his hitting. Maybe a change of scenery could help him.
Buster Olney then reported that the Braves may not be interested in selling Maybin at this time.
By the way, on Maybin: He's been playing well for the Braves and ATL not open to dealing him now.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 6, 2015
Do I think the Braves trade Cameron Maybin? It’s possible, you never know these days, but he is fitting in nicely in Atlanta.
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