There is no such thing as a perfect trade target, and the Atlanta Braves have proven that not every trade works out. Looking at the Braves' current roster, you can plainly see Sean Murphy, who was widely considered to be one of the best catchers in baseball when Atlanta traded for him, as a guy who hasn't panned out as expected. That uncertainty with any deal has led Alex Anthopoulos to try and minimize long-term risk, but there is one potential trade target that could fit what the Braves prefer while addressing their consistently frustrating shortstop issues.
Everyone knows the Braves need a shortstop, but few have solutions to the problem that would actually work to solve their problem. The free-agent market is severely lacking in shortstops for the second year in a row, and Atlanta's internal options are at least another season away from being ready. That leaves the trade market, and that looks much more promising.
For the most part, the top trade targets this offseason all have limited team control left, which, in theory, should make them more attainable and affordable. One such trade target is Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who may be close to perfect for where the Braves are right now despite having Scott Boras as his agent.
Braves should pursue Jeremy Peña even if a long-term deal is not in the cards
Setting his contract status aside for a moment, Peña is exactly what the Braves need at shortstop. He is a quality right-handed bat with 20-homer pop who has posted back-to-back seasons with an OPS north of .800. Peña has also been a strong defender in the past, although his defensive metrics have been far more inconsistent. For a team that has had to watch guys like Ha-Seong Kim, Jim Jarvis, and Nick Allen in the lineup constantly, Peña would be a welcome breath of fresh air.
There is an obvious problem with this plan if the goal is to find a long-term shortstop due in large part to the presence of Boras. The Braves just tried and failed to use a Boras client at shortstop in Kim, which didn't work out, and the super agent almost certainly will not entertain extension talks with Peña this close to free agency. However, a motivated Peña who is playing to get his big contract after the 2027 season could be exactly what Atlanta needs.
If the Braves trade for Peña, the move would allow Atlanta to be competitive in 2027 while also allowing top prospects like Tate Southisene, John Gil, and Alex Lodise more time to develop. While any of those guys being ready next season may be a stretch, 2028 is very much in play for all three players. By acquiring Peña, the Braves could set themselves up in the short term, while not relying on negotiations with Boras to secure their long-term future. The Astros' asking price still matters, but the idea of trading for Peña may be more appealing to the Braves if they know they could treat him as strictly a rental.
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