All I want for an Atlanta Braves Christmas is…

This is all about a potential Atlanta Braves trade target whose appeal never seems to go away.

If only things would proceed like this for the Atlanta Braves:

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the Front Office

All kinds of creatures were stirring, especially Alex Anthopoulos.

The trade scenarios were hung on the whiteboards with care

In hopes that St. Arenado soon would be there.

I won’t continue this atrocity, but you get the picture.  I have written multiple times about Nolan Arenado in conjunction with the Braves:  that he wasn’t all that great, that he wasn’t the right fit, that I really wanted him, that he was ridiculously too expensive, and (most recently) that a deal to get him wasn’t really in the style of Alex Anthopoulos.  All of that… truth (well, maybe not the first couple, in retrospect).

And yet… like a stalker’s obsession… the topic keeps coming up.  Yes:  I’m a bit manic on the subject.  But there’s “reasons” for this:

• the Rockies’ best-laid plans have blown up in their face.
• the Atlanta Braves really do need a dependable middle-of-the-order bat — and certainty at third base.
• the alignment of stars, tea leaves, and opportunity might never get any better

Fred just told us of the practical approaches and targets that the Braves should pursue in order to land an impact bat for the lineup.

That’s great if you’re the parent and think that You Know Best about the subject of gift-giving to your children.  But what if you’re still the kid and your Christmas list doesn’t include the word “practical”?

In such cases, you lobby mom and dad daily about how really important and reasonable your (totally unreasonable) requests are.  You beg them at every opportunity for that Deluxe Edition of ______ would really be used and enjoyed every day.  That’s what kids do.

So that’s what about to happen here:  all of the reasons why the Braves really, really gotta go get Nolan Arenado… and how they should do it.