Atlanta Braves: Could a Nolan Arenado trade actually be possible?

Cautionary Notes

Despite the current Rocky Mountain row, a deal for Arenado would have to involve some cash help if the Atlanta Braves and this 2019 version of Alex Anthopoulos are to seriously consider another blockbuster deal.

After all, this is a club that just refused to pay Josh Donaldson $21 million (the Twins’ final offer)… so we expect the Braves to pony up roughly 75% more than that to get Arenado?

Not likely… and there’s reasons it would be ill-conceived regardless:  the Braves lineup would be tangled up, Arenado isn’t the true cleanup hitter Atlanta needs, and his presence would likely require another outfielder.

For the sake of the exercise, though:  let’s see what it might require.

Making a Deal

You’ll see lots of opinions about trade pieces… but this one at least gives a nod to the financial considerations needed from the Braves side… though the Rockies probably would balk because it’s light on prospects.

• Step 1:  Ender Inciarte.  Colorado needs a true center fielder – especially in their cavernous pastureland.  He’s also a $7 million player this year, which would help offset the monies involved.
• Step 2:  Adam Duvall.  He’s a $3.25 million player, and he would probably flourish in the thinner air… never mind the additional left-handed pitching out West that he’d feast on.  He might not be bad as a Brave in 2020, but he’d be great as a Rockie.
• Step 3:  Johan Camargo.  No, not Austin Riley.  The Rockies would need to fill the 3rd base position immediately and Riley might not be ready.  Besides, Atlanta might need him for left field immediately.  Oh, and that saves Atlanta another $1.7 million.
• Step 4:  The Braves would have to keep Crisitian Pache and Drew Waters – particularly if they are able to send 2 major league outfielders out West.  Colorado would need to select their prospects from somewhere else.
• Step 5:  Take a pitcher… given the above, it’s probable that Colorado would demand Ian Anderson or Kyle Wright, and there’s not likely much that would knock them off that perch if the rest of that is close to being accurate.

Truthfully, that should be enough under the circumstances.   Colorado’s leverage isn’t that significant… or at least it shouldn’t be.