Debating the question: the Atlanta Braves should pursue Juan Soto

Juan Soto is available. Let's debate the merits of an Atlanta Braves pursuit. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Juan Soto is available. Let's debate the merits of an Atlanta Braves pursuit. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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Atlanta Braves
Count again… how many outfielders do the Atlanta Braves have now? (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

3. Atlanta already has plenty of outfielders

That was true until this past weekend.  Right now, the starting OF looks like Rosario, Harris, and Acuna with Heredia and Ozuna as backups.

The loss of Adam Duvall, even though his hitting has been spotty at best, might ironically be the catalyst for Atlanta to pursue one of the top hitters in all of baseball.  So how about the rest?

  • Heredia, let’s face it, is still around for only 2 reasons:  late-inning defense and dugout morale.
  • Eddie Rosario isn’t the best defender and his bat isn’t most consistent, though yes — he does have his moments.
  • Marcell Ozuna should never wear a glove again and his bat has been most useful as a device for circulating air during stifling Truist Park afternoon games.  That despite occasionally running into a pitch.

So how else are you gonna replace Duvall?  Bring Joc Peterson back?  On a contract that you didn’t really want when he opted to take the Giants’ offer this past off-season?  Would the Giants even be willing?

Maybe Tyler Naquin? Eh… he was better earlier in the year.

Unfortunately, we’re talking about guys of that ilk since most of the available players aren’t really that inspiring.  That includes Michael Conforto, whose physical state (shoulder) is unknown despite assurances from… his agent.

So why not go big?  Or why not at least ask the question on Soto?  There’s literally nothing to lose.

2. The Nats aren’t going to trade Soto within the division

Again, they probably don’t really care since none of that Front Office is likely to be employed in the same place by the time 2024 rolls around.

The responsibility of Mike Rizzo begins and ends with this:  do the bidding of the Lerner family in getting that team as ready to sell as possible.  His job is to give a new owner a stable situation with a known blueprint going forward.

Ideally, of course, they’d like to set the team up so that their rebuild time is short, but it’s entirely up to them about how they want to accomplish that mission.

If the Nats Front Office can reasonably “sell” any Soto trade deal to their fans, then they are good to go… and the only team that might truly be off limits is the Baltimore Orioles, since that involves an actual ownership feud.

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