Atlanta Braves: Kris Bryant is a better option than Josh Donaldson

Prospects

I hate trying to guess which prospects will go in trades because it’s such a nuanced game and I’m never right. So I’ll turn to other people for their opinions and ask you if it seems worth it. My stance is:  typically it’s worth it.

One can only hope a prospect turns into a viable Major League player, no matter the production in the Minors. I was recently watching a Spring Training game from 2012 (yes, I’m a loser) in which they were discussing the upside of a young Julio Teheran, and how this kid was going to be a STAR.

Also, in that same game, I was instructed to get out a notepad and write down the name “Tyler Pastornicky” because he was going to be a STAR!!!

It’s just a brief illustration of how rare it is for a highly-hyped prospect to turn into a great player…like Kris Bryant.

Personally, I’d give up Cristian Pache or Drew Waters for Kris Bryant and I find it highly improbable that either one of them turns into a player like Bryant. If I’m wrong, it’s okay, because more often than not I’ll be right. Will it even take Pache to get Bryant? Let’s see what they are saying in Chicago.

End of Ender

Here’s what Bruce Levine of 670 the Score in Chicago thinks about a Braves package for Bryant:

Ender Inciarte, Austin Riley, and Max Fried.

"Ender Inciarte could fill the Cubs’ needs in center field and leadoff. He’s a quality defensive player who has a .338 on-base percentage in his career and is under team control through 2022."

I don’t want to see Fried go and I don’t think the Braves can afford to send him packing. If we shipped Ender Inciarte off to Chicago in the deal we would save $7.7 million, making Bryant’s contract a $10.8 million increase in the 2020 payroll. That would leave enough to sign another good free agent pitcher to replace Fried.