As we continue on our path of "How many trade candidates can Trent possibly write about for the Atlanta Braves before the trade deadline?" we now reach Paul Sewald.
Sewald is an interesting name because the Mariners are not necessarily out of it. They are in a weird spot as they are only 4.5 games out of it, but they have several teams ahead of them. They are considering trading from some of their depth to improve the holes on their roster. Thinking more about moves that will not just help this year but make them better in 2024 and beyond without fully giving up.
This has led them to say they will consider trading from their rotation or their bullpen.
Mariners Could Deal From Rotation, Open To Offers On Paul Sewald https://t.co/BBXNQF1c8S pic.twitter.com/6ItLnvm2mi
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) July 29, 2023
Paul Sewald is someone every contending team should be interested in. In 43 innings, he has a 2.93 ERA, 1.94 xERA, 2.98 FIP, 3.28 xFIP, and 2.75 SIERA. This comes with a 35.5% (!) strikeout rate and an 8.3% walk rate. He also carries 21 saves on his stat line as well, showing that this is an arm a team can run out in the 8th or 9th inning and close the door.
Add in that he is not a free agent until 2025 and there is reason to be excited.
The rumor goes on to say that the Mariners would look for young controllable outfielders or a second baseman. Well conveniently, the Braves have a guy in Vaughn Grissom that fits better at second base or in the outfield than he does at shortstop. Grissom also has plenty of talent in his bat that might be appealing to Seattle.
That may not be the trade exactly, but it might be a good starting point and shows why the two teams match up well for a potential move. Maybe the Mariners would also include adding Logan Gilbert to the deal if they want to move from their rotation. They might also be willing to move Teoscar Hernandez according to some reports. He might make sense in Atlanta as well.
That would turn this into a much bigger deal, one that would almost certainly mean the Braves have to move an A.J. Smith-Shawver, Spencer Schwellenbach, Owen Murphy, as well as more.
Just the idea of adding Sewald to this Braves bullpen that is already really good does something for me. So, to answer the question I posed in the title, yes, Paul Sewald would make sense for the Braves.
We are approaching the trade deadline and I am excited to see what the Braves front office cooks up.