The past few series matchups haven’t been very good for the Braves. Losing to the Cardinals and being swept in two games by the Reds is not a good look for what should be a powerful force from the NL East. While it may look bad, the Braves have had a flurry of recent injuries, prompting them to find replacements such as Whit Merrifield, who fell injured before taking the field for the Braves.
Even with a valid excuse like that, it doesn’t distract us from the Braves’ tendency to not score runs when they badly need to. If the Braves are going to survive deep into the postseason, they will need an offensive boost. However, some scenarios could very well prove detrimental to the Braves both this year and in the long run. Let’s explore three such scenarios hoping this isn’t the case on July 30.
1. The Braves could be priced out of the market
There’s a usual sense of frustration when the trade deadline breezes by and your favorite team doesn’t make that last grab for success. But this likely isn’t the case for the Braves. Alex Anthopoulos usually rides the pulse of his team and is ready to pounce on the best opportunity.
While true, the asking price for much-needed upgrades could be asking too much of the Braves. There doesn’t appear to be any doubt that the Braves will need to deal from their stockpile of pitching depth. But, with the many injuries Atlanta has already suffered and the pending free agencies in the coming months, the Braves might understandably cling to their top pitching talent.
Among other Braves’ prospects that will draw some attention is Nacho Alvarez Jr, who is now playing second base and filling in for the injured Ozzie Albies. Atlanta will likely balk at the idea of trading any talent that has become necessary, and Alvarez Jr was necessary well before Albies landed on the IL. Should the price go too high for the Braves, we could see other teams swoop in and grab the offensive upgrades the Braves were interested in.
The chances of Atlanta being unable to give at least one position a much-needed upgrade is highly unlikely, but one can never tell what will happen when the trade deadline becomes an all-out bidding war.
2. The Phillies acquire a new weapon
For the past two years, it seemed like the Braves had a clear path to the World Series. But for two consecutive years, the Phillies caught fire and eliminated the Braves from contention. The last thing Atlanta needs is a blockbuster deal sending a surefire stud to Philly.
The Phillies are said to have an interest in trading for Luis Robert Jr. While it seemed the asking price became too high, the White Sox have indicated that they will be holding onto Garrett Crochet. This might alter the equation enough for the White Sox to be a little more flexible. Right now, the two teams that seem like the best matches are the Dodgers and the Phillies.
Robert Jr is under club control through 2027. A trade opportunity for an MVP-caliber player with years of control doesn’t come around too often. It would be understandable if a team bet the farm on a player like him.
It's 'more likely' that Luis Robert Jr. stays in Chicago rather than being traded, per @JonHeyman pic.twitter.com/9awzK48rpP
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) July 25, 2024
If Robert Jr lands with the Phillies, the NL East will be haunted by a lineup featuring Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, and Luis Robert Jr through at least next year. Of course, if he lands with the Dodgers, that would be pretty bad too: Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Luis Robert Jr.
Still, if the Phillies don’t acquire the star centerfielder, they could make a play for Cody Bellinger or Mason Miller. Any way you look at, it wouldn’t be good news for the Braves. But with a rotation featuring Sale, Lopez, and Fried, the Braves have a fighting chance if they can find some more offensive firepower to combat the other NL behemoths.
3. The Braves are forced to deal Drue Hackenberg and Owen Murphy
It definitely ranks lower on the disaster meter, but giving up more talent than you bargained for is a nightmare GMs face. In addition, it would be a sad day for all Braves’ fans if the organization had to part with number nine prospect Drue Hackenberg and number four prospect Owen Murphy, both right-handed starting pitchers. As a note, Hackenberg recently struck out 16 batters through 7 IP in Double-A.
That's a sweet 16 strikeouts for Drue Hackenberg!
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 21, 2024
The @Braves' No. 9 prospect sets a single-game high in the Minors this season and a @mbraves franchise record: pic.twitter.com/Jm1iQehCry
Trade deadline deals are a competitive affair. In order to get something valuable in a competitive environment, teams need to make sacrifices. Both Hackenberg and Murphy, who is on the IL having undergone Tommy John surgery, won’t be making their debuts in the near future. Right now, they aren’t necessities. If teams are going to favor the Braves in a bidding war, some of their top talent may need to be on the table or else we find ourselves in the first nightmare scenario where no deal gets done.
While this isn’t an immediate worry, both Hackenberg and Murphy would likely have a great impact on Atlanta's rotation in the future. Should the Braves trade one or both prospects, they may be sacrificing the future for the present. If a deal is made where both promising pitchers are dealt, it would need to be for a definite impact player(s) who isn’t merely a rental for this not to result in regret.