After a relatively slow start to the offseason around all of baseball thus far, the Atlanta Braves made a trade late this afternoon with the Athletics. The team announced a trade for infielder Nick Allen coming to Atlanta in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jared Johnson.
This marks the third notable move of the offseason for Atlanta, after they traded Jorge Soler and handed out a couple of contract extensions earlier this month.
The #Braves today acquired INF Nick Allen from the Athletics in exchange for minor-league RHP Jared Johnson.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 11, 2024
Braves nab former top-five A's prospect to serve as infield depth
Allen is a 26 year-old middle infielder who was a third round pick in the 2017 draft. Allen has appeared in 247 games with the A's from 2022-2024. Over that time he has a .209/.254/.283 slash line, nine homers, eight stolen bases, career 53 wRC+, and -0.4 fWAR.
Allen was previously Oakland's fifth ranked prospect in 2022, just behind former Brave Cristian Pache and a spot ahead of 2021 first round pick Max Muncy. His .319/.374/.471 slash line during the 2021 season at Double-A with the Rockhounds is what spurred his high prospect ranking.
His stature doesn't lend itself to much power, but his sub .300 slugging percentage combined with a 5.4 BB% in his first three years in the majors suggest he's an extremely light hitting middle infielder. He will likely serve as organizational depth if the Braves are able to stash him. However, that isn't a certainty because Allen is out of minor league options.
The arm going back to the A's is 23 year-old right-handed pitcher Jared Johnson. He was a 14th round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Smithville, Mississippi. Last season, Johnson spent the year with High-A Rome and had a 2.60 ERA, 61 K's, and 27 BB's in 52 innings.
It's not groundbreaking news, but it is news. Allen will occupy the 38th spot on the 40-man roster as of right now. Johnson was set to eligible for the upcoming Rule 5 draft, so this move doesn't come as a shock. Atlanta Braves beat writer Mark Bowman points out that Luis De Avila (Atlanta's 15th ranked prospect) is the only member of Atlanta's top 30 prospect list that is under consideration to be added to the 40-man in order to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 draft.