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Atlanta Braves: 5 players most likely to be traded this offseason

By Jake Mastroianni

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 11: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves points to the crowd after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 11, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 11: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves points to the crowd after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on August 11, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: A.J.  Minter #33 of the Atlanta Braves makes a late throw to first base, on a infield hit from Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scoring Justin Turner #10 for a 6-4 lead, during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: A.J.  Minter #33 of the Atlanta Braves makes a late throw to first base, on a infield hit from Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scoring Justin Turner #10 for a 6-4 lead, during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

4. Chad  Sobotka/A.J.  Minter

Just like in our article looking at players who disappointed us in 2019, I’m going to cheat and combine Chad Sobotka and A.J. Minter.

Related Story. 3 players who disappointed in 2019. light

Similar to Touki, this would be a sell low candidate for either player, but at the same time, it might be best to part ways.

Sobotka ended the 2018 season looking like one of the best relievers the Atlanta Braves had with a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 innings with 21 strikeouts.

That narrative quickly changed as he struggled in Spring Training and carried that over into the season where he had a 6.21 ERA with the Braves in 29 innings.

Like Touki, his strikeout numbers remained great with a K/9 of 11.8 in Atlanta and 13.8 in Gwinnett.

But he still struggled even at Triple-A with a 4.79 ERA in 20.2 innings.

He was able to improve his walk rate at Triple-A — 1.7 BB/9 compared to 5.9 in Atlanta — which prompted him being called back up in September, but those command issues popped back up walking five batters in just 3 innings pitched.

Minter entered the season as a likely candidate to close with the oft-injured Arodys Vizcaino getting injured again, but he struggled to the tune of a 7.06 ERA with Atlanta in 29.1 innings with walks being a major issue.

Just to give you an idea, he walked 22 batters in 61.1 innings with the Braves in 2018. This year he walked 23 batters in just 29.1 innings.

Like Sobotka, his strikeout numbers remained great at both levels, and Minter was able to significantly decrease his walk rate at Triple-A.

He also got called back up in September and didn’t allow a walk in 2 innings pitched, but he did give up 5 hits.

The stuff that both of these guys possess and the strikeout totals still make them very intriguing options.

But as an Atlanta Braves FAN, I’m a little tired of both of them walking the world. It may be good for everyone if at least one of these players gets traded this offseason.

Again, not going to give anybody away for the sake of doing it, but in a deal where maybe we get rid of a big contract (we don’t have many like that) in order to clear some payroll, maybe we throw in one of these guys to incentivize the deal.

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