Braves Continue To Look At Options For Future
The Atlanta Braves have been wheeling-and-dealing to revamp this organization since November of 2014. The roster shake ups will continue on as we inch closer and closer to the 2017 season. Braves General Manager John Coppolella has a lot to do with this roster if they’re still planning on being competitive in 2017.
Major League Baseball’s draft is June 6th and Atlanta has five picks in the first 80 selections. This should bring in lots of good prospects, but the Braves are hoping to contend soon. We’ve got many prospects getting close to being ready, but these are mostly pitchers. Coppolella and the Braves front office will have to look for bats that are MLB ready at some point.
This could possibly enter the name: Yasiel Puig
The Dodgers placed Puig on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain on June 3rd. He had been dealing with the injury all week and the Dodgers finally decided that he’d be better off with some extended rest.
Currently in the Dodgers outfield they have Joc Pederson, Trayce Thompson, Kike Hernandez, Howie Kendrick and Scott Van Slyke. Thompson has been filling in very nicely for Puig and may be winning that position on the field. Could Puig be becoming available?
According to LA Times writer Bill Plaschke, Puig has become “merely an average baseball player.”
"Puig is just an average baseball player on a Dodgers team that needs him to be much more, and if they are serious about contending this summer, they need to trade him while they still can.He’s still only 25. He’s already started in an All-Star game. He is a defensive highlight reel. Someone will take a chance on him. Someone will give up an established hitter for him. Someone will believe he is a broken but brilliant talent who can be easily fixed."
That someone could be the Atlanta Braves. Like Plaschke said, he’s still very young and should have many great years ahead of him. He’s changed within the locker room as well. Reports have been out that he isn’t a distraction in the clubhouse anymore and getting along with other players.
This season, Puig has struggled at the plate and staying on the field. In 53 games, he’s got a batting average of .237 with four doubles, two triples and five home runs. The 25-year-old has 43 strikeouts compared to just nine walks this season.
In 2015, he played in only 79 games batting .255 with 12 doubles, three triples and 11 home runs.
After bursting onto the scene in 2013 and having an All-Star season in 2014, he’s been very average at best.
Is he someone the Braves can build around with Freddie Freeman? I believe so. Yes, he’s struggled in LA over the last two years, but he could use a new location to change his mental thoughts.
LA just DFA’d struggling outfielder Carl Crawford so it shows they aren’t afraid to be making moves.
The Dodgers need pitching to fill out their rotation behind Clayton Kershaw. Could the Braves trade Julio Teheran for Puig and either a prospect or another draft pick? If the Dodgers agree and I’m sitting in Coppolella’s shoes, I’m saying yes.
Braves of course would have to trade right fielder Nick Markakis to open this spot for Puig, but teams are probably already calling about the veteran outfielder.
Puig’s trade value is very low right now and the Braves should bounce on it. It may be a crazy idea, but I think it could work for both sides.
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