Nearly every offseason Alex Anthopoulos works out an unexpected trade. Last offseason Anthopoulos shocked the baseball world with the Chris Sale trade...who could it be this year? There are plenty of players that make sense for Atlanta, but which of them would be the biggest get? Who's the Braves' dream trade target?
Without sacrificing all logic and writing an article about signing Juan Soto or trading for Aaron Judge, we'll look at a massive acquisition that isn't out of the realm of possibility.
Mason Miller of the Athletics is the ideal trade target for the Braves
Not many guys can transcend baseball and establish themselves as appointment television on the mound, but Mason Miller of the Athletics did just that in 2024. Much like the Braves' own Spencer Strider, Miller dominated hitters with his elite fastball/slider combo.
In fact Miller AVERAGED 100.9 mph with his four-seam fastball. Miller also ranked in the 100th percentile in xERA (1.77), xBA (.150), whiff% (40.1), and K% (41.8) via Baseball Savant.
Top 10 Four-Seam Fastballs by tjStuff+ 🧵
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) November 8, 2024
1) Mason Miller - 118 tjStuff+
Baseballs most electric pitch deservedly holds the #1 spot thanks to its blazing speed. The offering ran a disgusting 37.1 Whiff% on the season pic.twitter.com/Mc5OSOgwk6
With the A's logistical baseball situation in the dumpster, the optics of trading Miller could drive the fanbase they have left out the door. However, that hasn't stopped owner John Fisher before. Miller pitching in Sacramento on a nightly basis in front of a handful of fans would be a crime for baseball.
All the more reasoning for the Braves to swoop in and save baseball. Atlanta now has a need for an elite bullpen arm after the unfortunate Joe Jimenez injury. In addition to obvious need, acquiring Miller would come at practically no cost financially.
Miller will make under $1 million next season, and isn't arb eligible until 2026. He also wouldn't be a free agent until 2030 thus giving the Braves their closer for the foreseeable future. Miller's cost would simply be the prospects you'd have to part with in this hypothetical trade.
This could be the domino needed for a really fun offseason as it would allow Atlanta to shock everyone with a Raisel Iglesias trade. Yes, Iglesias was incredible last season, but he's set to make $16 million in 2025 which is also the final year of his contract. Acquiring Miller would allow the Braves to keep a dominant bullpen, open up the possibility of an Iglesias trade, and allocate those funds saved into some really top tier free agents.