Could a deal between Detroit and the Atlanta Braves possibly work?

The Braves Angle

Okay, let’s start with the basics.  The Braves would probably – definitely – be interested in acquiring 24-year-old starter Michael Fulmer.  In just 2 seasons (and at age 24), he’s already looking like a budding ace… with 4 more years of cheap team control.

In short, if you liked Sonny Gray, you’ve gotta love Fulmer.

Detroit would be stupid to give him up… unless they launched their rebuilding campaign with a return worthy of him.

So could this approach possibly work for Atlanta?  Here’s a few scenarios – which are by no means all-inclusive… or even endorsed, actually.

CABRERA and V-MART:  There’s just no scenario for these contracts.

Might as well eliminate the ones with no future for Atlanta right up front.  Miggy is still going to be good, but his MVP days are likely behind him.  And V-Mart’s deal will be done soon enough.  So let’s move on.

JUSTIN UPTON

Atlanta wouldn’t actually mind getting Justin Upton back… heck, they apparently tried to get him last year before he agreed to join the Tigers.  But where would he play?

I could see a (somewhat bizarre) scenario in which the Braves send Nick Markakis to Detroit for Upton – that would cost the cost in half for Detroit and limit their exposure to 2018 alone – and each team would still have an outfielder.

Except… there’s Ronald Acuna lurking, which still gives Atlanta 4 outfielders.  Could the Braves find a taker for Matt Kemp, too?  An outfield of Upton, Inciarte, and Acuna sounds pretty sexy, but the Braves might have to pay down up to half of Kemp’s deal ($21.75m for both 2018-19) to find a buyer.

So such a sequence would look like this:

• Detroit:  $11m savings in 2018 in taking Markakis; $88 million more for 2018-2021.
• Atlanta:  $11m more in 2018; Justin Upton for 2018-2021 at $88m total (until he turns 34).
• Atlanta:  Must find Kemp buyer, eating $10.5m in at least 2018.   If a true “half contract” buydown, that means $21.75 million to another partner.
• Atlanta:  After all that, they get to trade for Michael Fulmer.  And commit to $66m extra dollars through 2021

Alternate scenario:  the teams swap Kemp and Upton plus some of Kemp’s contract, which still saves Detroit a lot because of the shorter contract term.  This might be easier for all concerned, though their real savings doesn’t kick it until Kemp’s term is done.