Report: Atlanta Braves working on adding left fielder

Trade Options

There are a few of these, but let’s just hit the highlights:

BOSTON.  Earlier today, we talked about Boston’s Andrew Benintendi.  This stems from a Jim Bowden report suggesting that the Red Sox are trying to move the 26½-year-old, who was their 7th overall pick in the 2015 draft.  As such, it’s a bit of a surprise.

That report also noted their desire to get pitching and an outfielder in return… which frankly sounds like something right up the Braves alley.  The biggest question would be whether Atlanta believes there’s still something “there” in Benintendi’s game after a couple of down years… which injury definitely could have impacted.

CINCINNATI.  While the Reds are officially being coy about this, it’s notable that they are actively trying to shed payroll, and thus Nicholas Castellanos — even though he just arrived in Cincy for 2020 — could be available.

His bat tends to be up-and-down at times, but for a player still in his prime (will be 29 in March), $16 million per year (through 2023) isn’t a terrible rate to pay for someone who should produce .800+ OPS and a couple of dozen homers.

His outfield defense isn’t great, but hiding him in leftfield might work.  The Reds might be interested in a bit more than a simple salary-dump deal, but that would still work for the Braves.

So far, the Reds have been willing to sell off assets, so it’s a reasonable place to go shopping.

Those are two interesting names that might be possible:  several others could be in play that haven’t been publicized (Byron Buxton or Eddie Rosario of the Twins… if they’re willing and if Buxton can stay on the field; Seattle’s Mitch Haniger; or one of the Pirates’ extra hands).

Overall, this snippet from Morosi is interesting if true, for it’s an indication going forward that Atlanta isn’t giving up on Riley and they are narrowing their options accordingly.