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Could Atlanta Braves find pitching help by trading within NL East?

By Jake Mastroianni

JUPITER, FL - MARCH 01: Pitchers (L-R) Bartolo Colon, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler pose for photos during media day at Traditions Field on March 1, 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FL - MARCH 01: Pitchers (L-R) Bartolo Colon, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler pose for photos during media day at Traditions Field on March 1, 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 23: Brian Snitker #43 of the Atlanta Braves talks with Mickey Callaway #36 of the New York Mets prior to the Grapefruit League spring training game at First Data Field on February 23, 2019 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Trading in the division

Again, trading within the division is not uncommon, but one of the magnitude we’re talking about is pretty rare.

I looked back at the last 10 years of trades, and according to what I found on Baseball Reference, the most significant trade during that time involving a divisional rival was when the Braves sent Mike Dunn and Omar Infante to the Marlins for Dan Uggla.

Over that time the Braves have made three trades with the Marlins and two three-team trades that involved the Marlins.

They’ve also made three trades with the Mets and one with the Nationals during that time. Interesting that they haven’t made a single trade with the Phillies in at least the last 10 years.

Two of those trades with the Mets involved Kelly Johnson, and the other included Jeff Francoeur. I still can’t believe all we got was Ryan Church was Frenchy.

More from Tomahawk Take

Usually when teams trade within the division you have one team looking to contend in the short-term, and one looking to contend in a few years. Meaning, the Mets wouldn’t want to give the Atlanta Braves anyone who is going to help the Braves when the Mets are ready to contend again.

Depending on how quickly the Mets hope to turn this thing around, Wheeler may be the only option for the Braves.

A recent article from SNY talks about potential trade packages for Wheeler. They mention Kolby Allard, Joey Wentz, or Kyle Muller as potential options in a deal for Wheeler.

I would be OK with giving up any of them in a one-for-one deal, especially if the Atlanta Braves are then able to sign Wheeler to a three or four-year deal after the season.

A trade for Syndergaard would likely cost the Braves one of their top pitching prospects — maybe someone like Kyle Wright or Bryse Wilson (I don’t think they’d be stupid enough to trade Ian Anderson). They’d also have to include another top 20 prospect from their system — maybe Greyson Jenista.

Next. Time ticking for Ender. dark

It’s certainly a long shot, but it’s not impossible. If the New York Mets are ready to rebuild, and the Atlanta Braves are serious about winning in 2019, it makes sense for these two teams to help each other out.

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