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Atlanta Braves trade markets update after Friday’s flurries

By Alan Carpenter

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 07: Starting pitcher Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after being hit by a line drive by Spencer Kieboom #64 of the Washington Nationals (not pictured) in the second inning at Nationals Park on August 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 07: Starting pitcher Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after being hit by a line drive by Spencer Kieboom #64 of the Washington Nationals (not pictured) in the second inning at Nationals Park on August 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 08: Pitcher Julio Teheran #49 of the Atlanta Braves throws during the eighth inning of Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 08: Pitcher Julio Teheran #49 of the Atlanta Braves throws during the eighth inning of Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Back to the Braves

This is getting a little interesting.  As just noted above, I don’t think that Corey Kluber is going to be available, so the Braves are probably not going to be able to sell their excess pitching stock to Cleveland.

More from Tomahawk Take

There are a couple of scenarios that are plausible.

  • The Catching Market is drying up.  If the Dodgers spurn both Miami (Realmuto) and their former backstop (Grandal) as suggested above, then Miami might be left with little choice except to take an Atlanta offer… unless Houston re-engages.
  • Cleveland truly doesn’t need to trade Kluber, and thus could sit on him indefinitely while waiting out a top-shelf offer.  If the Dodgers fail to get him, then the Braves could look to LA for a LHH outfielder.  This is now my best guess on how the Braves end up with a corner OF this off-season.

The return for LA could include Tyler Flowers with others added (if Realmuto happens).  In fact, there’s reason to believe such a deal could turn into a minor blockbuster of its own if pitchers were also thrown into the mix.

  • If you’re still thinking about Bryce Harper after my lengthy explanation from Thursday, consider this:  Philadelphia probably doesn’t really want him… thus it could be that Harper’s choices come down to the White Sox or … nobody unless his price comes down.  If that happens, then the Dodgers or Braves could plausibly be in the mix… if he doesn’t wait too long.

The Phillies?  They want Mike Trout in 2021, and he wants to be there as well.  They’ve clearly got money, but almost certainly not Harper and Trout money.

  • If you’re still thinking Mitch Haniger from the T-Mobile-sponsored ‘Seattle Mariners Shopping Experience Fun Ride and Emporium’... the only idea I have here is this one, which is not ideal:
    • Realmuto is retained by the Marlins
    • The Braves fail to land a veteran starting pitcher
    • Atlanta decides to meet Seattle’s ‘gotta be blown away’ price for Haniger simply because they feel they have to deal away some pitching…now.
    • (And no, despite Seattle acquiring Domingo Santana last night, that’s not an omen for dealing Haniger)
    • So the actual chance that happens?  About 0.5%.
  • I still can’t rule out Sonny Gray for Atlanta.

But all of this will continue to take some time to work through… so don’t hold your breath with the expectation that it all unfolds immediately…

Outfield Origination. dark. Next

… unless it does happen immediately, which is why I’m typing so fast.

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