Right now, the needs of the Atlanta Braves' roster are pretty well-defined. The Braves are pretty obviously going to be buyers at the trade deadline, and while adding a starter sounds like a priority, it would be just terrific if Atlanta would also add some more bullpen depth. However, one roster need that has persisted for some time now is at shortstop despite the Braves' best attempts. Thankfully, the impending trade deadline could provide an answer.
Ever since Dansby Swanson left and Orlando Arcia flamed out, the Braves have struggled to find a long-term solution at short. They (and most others) thought that adding Ha-Seong Kim this past offseason would at least provide a nice bridge to the future, but Kim needed finger surgery and has been unplayably bad since returning. Mauricio Dubon and Jorge Mateo have been fun stories, but both are better suited in a utility role or as a bench bat, respectively.
With the deadline coming up fast, this is the time to make moves to bolster the Braves' roster. Pitching should be relatively straightforward to acquire, but the trade deadline pickings appear to be slim at shortstop unless Alex Anthopoulos can convince the Astros to part with Jeremy Peña. However, one potential outside-the-box solution could be to call the Reds up and see what it would take to get them to part with Edwin Arroyo.
Braves targeting Edwin Arroyo in trade talks could give them their long-term shortstop solution
While trades between legitimate contenders aren't quite as common this time of year, the Braves and Reds are in very different places. Atlanta is cruising at the moment and doesn't have to force anything, while Cincinnati is trying to hang on for dear life. The Reds need pitching and have a glut of talented infielders (Elly De La Cruz, Steele Hall, Leo Balcazar, Spencer Steer, Sal Stewart, etc.), and the Braves need a shortstop and have some upper-level pitching prospects that could be the centerpiece of a trade.
In Arroyo, the Braves would be getting a surefire shortstop with the arm and range to potentially be a Gold Glove-caliber defender there. Even if one of the Braves' shortstop prospects works out particularly well, Arroyo has seen time at second base and probably could handle third in a pinch as well. While his aggressive approach can cause him to chase out of the zone, the switch-hitting Arroyo has looked really strong at the plate this season with a .323/.383/.562 line through 53 games this season, including 11 homers.
As is often the case, the question with Arroyo comes down to price. Yes, the Braves do have the types of talent that Cincinnati is looking for, but lining up on actual names when it comes to prospect-for-prospect trades can be tough. If the Reds value Arroyo as an actual prospect that is unproven in the majors, getting a deal done could be relatively painless. If Cincy decides to value him as a young shortstop with MLB-level with loads of team control, hopes of a trade are probably dead in the water.
Ultimately, these are the types of moves that the Braves should be entertaining right now. Yes, the straightforward "address short-term roster holes" moves are going to represent the bulk of the moves made at the trade deadline by Atlanta and everyone else. However, that doesn't mean that Anthopoulos shouldn't also take this opportunity to try and position the Braves well for the future, as well.
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