4 Braves trade candidates from clubs already falling out of contention

Luis Rengifo

Another interesting player from the Los Angeles Angels is Luis Rengifo. Rengifo might not be the flashiest hitter, but he brings quality at-bats whenever he steps up to the plate. This year, he is slashing .317/.366/.441 with 4 homers.

If the home run total seems a bit low, then it’s worth noting that he has only seen 188 at-bats this season. Still, Rengifo isn’t known for overwhelming power, but his bat has been on the uptrend since 2022. Last year, through 394 at-bats, Rengifo hit 16 homers to the tune of a .264 average.

Besides this year’s numbers, two things about Rengifo work well with any club: he is a switch-hitter and he has played every position besides first base, catcher, and pitcher during his Angels tenure.

This makes him a super-utility player with a plus bat and a highly respectable on-base percentage. If that isn’t enough, he also stole 17 bags this season so far proving he is no slouch on the bases. And if the Braves could nab Ward and Rengifo in the same deal, this could radically transform the Braves’ lineup.

The 27-year-old Luis Rengifo is owed $4.4 million this year. Next year, he is eligible for arbitration before he hits the open market after the 2025 season.

Brent Rooker

Last but certainly not least, there’s Brent Rooker. Rooker may not fly under the radar as well as others. As a matter of fact, he has been on the Braves’ radar already. Thus far, he is slashing .258/.340/.512 with 13 HR through 209 ABs this season for the Oakland A’s.

This comes after a 2023 campaign where he hit 30 HR with a .246 average through 463 at-bats. Rooker has the makings of a slugger. 2023 is also the first year we saw a decent sample size of Rooker’s ability. Since his debut in 2020, he scuffled in the majors and hadn’t seen many at-bats in a single season on the big-league level until last year.

Rooker, who turns 30 in November, is owed $740,000 this year and is eligible for arbitration every year through 2027 before hitting free agency.

Having control over Rooker through 2027 at a steep discount to his talent is a luxury any team would fight over. If the Braves are going to land Rooker, it may cost them more than what is ideal. However, if it does land them Rooker, it might be well worth it.

Rooker currently serves as the A’s primary designated hitter but occasionally plays in the corner outfield positions. Acquiring him would almost certainly have the effect of turning the Braves’ offense back into a force to reckon with.

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