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3 UP & 3 Down – 3 Players Atlanta Braves Should Trade For and 3 They Shouldn’t

By Seth Carter

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 02: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Kansas City Royals on May 2, 2021 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 02: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Kansas City Royals on May 2, 2021 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /
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Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Braves: Three Up & Three Down – Three Good Trade Targets and Three Bad.

The Atlanta Braves have dealt with a lot of injuries, bad luck, bullpen woes, and an arrest in 2021. Still, they remain within contention for first place.

On paper, this team still has the skills to win the East.

Starting Pitching

The pitching staff is led by three very capable starters in Charlie Morton, Ian Anderson, and Max Fried.

After a poor start to the season, Drew Smyly has not suffered a loss in his last nine starts.

Huascar Ynoa is on track to return to the team for the stretch run.

Morton is a proven ace on postseason teams. Anderson is one of the most talented young pitchers in the game. Max Fried’s name drew Cy Young Award discussion last season. After working through a couple of nagging injuries, he seems to be rounding into form.

Offense

On offense, the team is dealing with huge holes in the lineup from injuries to Travis d’Arnaud, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Marcell Ozuna.

Adding injury to insult, Ozuna was arrested.

Freddie Freeman is having one of the best six-week stretches of his career. Ozzie Albies has become one of the league’s best number three hitters, Joc Pederson has arrived to assist.

Despite all of the issues the Braves face, hope remains. Freddie Freeman is slashing .389/.474/.634 over the past six weeks.

He just ended a streak of 35 plate appearances without a swing and a miss. How is that real?

Over that same time period, Freeman has 23 RBI, which is four less than Ozzie Albies’ total.

Albies has stepped up and broken out in a big way this season. The all-around talent is also tenth in all of baseball in total RBI.

Despite the deficiencies, the Braves are still third in the NL in runs scored.

Need: Impact Outfield Bat

Bullpen

Finally, we get to the bullpen. This article takes a look at some of the most realistic relievers on the trade market that the Braves might be able to go after.

The bullpen has not lived up to expectations. ranking 21st in all of baseball in team relief ERA. The bullpen has been credited with 22 of the Braves’ losses this season.

Need: Back-End Reliever

Atlanta Braves: 3 Good Targets and 3 Bad Targets

If you click the button below, you’ll begin the slideshow. We bring you three players the Braves should target and three they should avoid at the trade deadline in Three Up and Three Down.

Click above to take a look at three good and three bad trades for the Braves at the deadline.

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