House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves failed deals might make Manny Machado off-season target

By Fred Owens

The Atlanta Braves added pitcher Kevin Gausman at the deadline but other deals didn't get done. Maybe they will this winter (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves added pitcher Kevin Gausman at the deadline but other deals didn't get done. Maybe they will this winter (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
The Atlanta Braves might be interested in Josh Donaldson if he were healthy but he isn't and hasn't been all year.
The Atlanta Braves might be interested in Josh Donaldson if he were healthy but he isn’t and hasn’t been all year. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Deals not made

Yesterday Jon Heyman mentioned the Atlanta Braves in two separate posts. The first discussed the future of Donaldson where in typical fashion he threw the Braves into the mix of teams interested in the Bringer of Rain.

In the second post, he acknowledged that his first evaluation of the Braves deadline “perhaps deserved a higher rating”. He followed that by providing this little gem.

"The player the Braves really wanted was Manny Machado. But their status as contender wasn’t as certain back when he was traded at the All-Sar break, so it’s understandable why they didn’t go all in …"

Well, there’s that and the fact that Braves weren’t going to rent a player they might not be able to sign.  Considering statements made during Anthopoulos’ interview with Russo, the Orioles probably wanted way too much for him as well.

The non-deal for Machado and Archer may, however, point to the Braves off-season priorities.

A too early look at winter deals

We know the Atlanta Braves are poised to be serious challengers in 2019 and beyond and most recognize the major areas requiring improvement.

  • The offense needs a right-handed power bat.
  • Maybe that’s Austin Riley.
  • Riley’s currently the Braves #4 prospect, MLB’s # 43 prospect and #3 third base prospect. (MLBPipeline).
  • He started the season gaining a well-earned promotion to AAA and smacked a .284/.345/.431/.777 line through June 3 when he blew his knee out.
  • Since returning he’s hit .247/.339/.333/.673 without a homer in 24 games.

I’d suggest that’s due to his knee and once he gets a solid foundation under him he’ll start hitting again.

That might not be until next year and the Braves can’t wait that long to decide what to do.

Manny Machado

The obvious move would be a pursuit of Manny Machado to play short alongside Camargo at third.  I understand his defensive metrics aren’t stellar. Even so, Machado is 26 years old and at least a five-win player who currently posts a .931 OPS. 147 wRC+ and a .388 wOBA.

It will take a 10-year deal at a contract about the size of the GDP of Malawi of course – and there are fallback options – but he’s clearly on the board.

Then there’s the need for a true top of the rotation veteran. I know the young arms are good. Houston had great arms too, yet they traded for Justin Verlander.

The target must be Jacob deGrom.

Home/Braves Rumors