The Atlanta Braves are in a very tough spot this season. They have the talent to succeed, but injuries to Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Strider, and Ronald Acuña Jr. have handicapped the team. Pair that with Jurickson Profar’s 80-game suspension, and you have a team on the verge of a disastrous season.
But they could still make some moves this season to boost the roster.
FanSided’s Austin Owens recently urged the Braves to trade former All-Star Bryce Elder this season and it could make a lot of sense given some more context.
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“Elder is currently on a one-year deal just south of $800,000,” Owens wrote. “Given his struggles the last couple of times he has been in the big leagues, one would think Elder would not provide much of a return in a trade.
“Realistically, a team that is desperate for starting pitching help may be willing to take a chance on a former all-star like Elder since his salary is so low and he is still just 25 years of age. Anthopoulos will likely hold onto Elder this year for depth and keep him in AAA, where he has been effective, hoping to build his confidence.”
Elder made one start this year and looked fine, but his horrendous season last year has Braves fans wanting him gone. Atlanta has the depth at the big league level, especially with Strider to return this season.
While Elder won’t net a huge return by himself, but he could be a piece of a bigger trade for a star hitter. Atlanta’s lineup has struggled tremendously this season, and using Elder as a trade piece to bring in a big-time hitter would be pretty smart.
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