Rumor: Atlanta Braves making Cristian Pache available in trade discussions

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 01: The Freeze races around the outfield after the fifth inning of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on August 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 01: The Freeze races around the outfield after the fifth inning of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on August 1, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Outfielders Brandon Nimmo #9, Juan Lagares #12 and Norichika Aoki #11 of the New York Mets bow to each other after the final out in the ninth inning to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 during the second game of a doubleheader at Citi Field on September 25, 2017.. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Outfielders Brandon Nimmo #9, Juan Lagares #12 and Norichika Aoki #11 of the New York Mets bow to each other after the final out in the ninth inning to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 during the second game of a doubleheader at Citi Field on September 25, 2017.. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

BaseballAmerica has good sources, and those sources are telling them that the Braves are offering one of the best centerfield prospects in trade talks this Winter.

When you dig deeper, this rumor actually does make sense.  At the surface, though, the idea that the Atlanta Braves are willing to part with one of their top position players – who plays a premium skills position, to boot – would be scary to the fanbase.

Kyle Glaser and J.J. Cooper of BaseballAmerica.com conducted a podcast this week (subscription site, though this is free to all) to discuss their view of the top prospects of the Braves’ farm system, and there were definitely some interesting nuggets that they had to share – one of which we highlight here.

Their discussions were almost entirely wrapped around the details of their prospect rankings within the Braves’ Top 8.  The entire list is here (this does require a subscription to view), though there were enough hints released in the podcast to identify that Top 8.

Here is that list, with Ben Chase’s TomahawkTake rankings added for comparison:

Ben placed catcher William Contreras at #5 (BA has him at #9).

There are several implications of what BA is reporting here… let’s dig in and try to understand what’s going on.

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