Define ‘Significant’…
It has long been known the Braves and Josh Donaldson have interest in a reunion, but the price has to be right, as this is Donaldson’s last chance at a big contract.
If Mike Moustakas’ contract is any indication, then Donaldson is going to get a lot of money and possibly over four years.
In a piece on The Athletic (paywall), Jim Bowden wrote the Braves main objective at the Winter Meetings should be to sign Donaldson to a 3-year, $75 million dollar deal.
Just a hunch, but if that was the contract that would sign Donaldson, it would have been done by now.
So if not Donaldson and certainly not Anthony Rendon, who will cost significantly more than Donaldson, then what’s next?
Perhaps Anthopoulos could pull off a long-awaited big trade next week.
The Cubs are reportedly “desperate” to make a trade, so how about sending Kris Bryant to Atlanta?
David Schoenfield of ESPN drew up a proposal of Cristian Pache for Bryant straight up. That is way too much, but it seems like Bryant to the Braves is a fit in many eyes.
Other trade targets could be Justin Turner (if the Dodgers get Rendon or Donaldson) or Kyle Seager, who is owed a lot of money, but was still a 2-win player last year.
The last and least appetizing option is giving third base to Johan Camargo until Austin Riley is ready.
But if they go with Camargo, that still leaves a significant hole in the cleanup spot.
Which leads me to my next point…
Add us as a preferred source on Google