The Atlanta Braves got off to one of the worst starts imaginable this season. Instead of starting out hot and rolling into a few series wins, the Braves struggled out of the gate and lost their first seven games. They’ve since bounced back a bit, but things aren’t looking great right now.
The Braves will be without Jurickson Profar for 80 games after the slugger failed a drug test for PEDs. They will also be without Reynaldo López for a few months after the righty underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Atlanta needs to make a few trades to right the ship.
Which trades do the Braves need to make to turn around their awful start?
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Trade proposal 1: Braves add two stars
- Braves receive: RHP Michael King, INF Luis Arráez
- Padres receive: RHP Bryce Elder, RHP Hurston Waldrep, SS Nacho Alvarez Jr.
The Braves need to add an infielder to replace Orlando Arcia and a pitcher to replace the aforementioned López. Adding Michael King and Luis Arráez would give the Braves a top-of-the-rotation starter and a top-of-the-lineup bat.
Atlanta would need to send struggling starter Bryce Elder alongside top prospects Hurston Waldrep and Nacho Alvarez Jr. in order to get the deal done. San Diego would add multiple players to fill the roles left by the two expiring stars it would be trading in the deal.
Trade proposal 2: Braves land a rental starter
- Braves receive: RHP Nick Martinez
- Reds receive: INF Nacho Alvarez Jr., RHP JR Ritchie
The Cincinnati Reds have a lot of starting pitchers to use in the big leagues this season, and Nick Martinez is the only one on an expiring deal. The Braves need a starter, so they could trade a pair of top prospects in order to steal the consistent starter away from Cincinnati.
Atlanta has a plethora of pitching prospects, but not enough big league talent. Losing JR Ritchie wouldn’t be a huge loss for the Braves, and it doesn’t seem like they’re ever going to give Nacho Alvarez Jr. a chance over Arcia.
Trade proposal 3: Braves acquire potential star outfielder
- Braves receive: OF Luis Robert Jr.
- White Sox receive: INF Nacho Alvarez Jr., RHP Drue Hackenberg, SS Jose Perdomo
The Braves need to replace Profar, and Luis Robert Jr. would be the perfect replacement. In the deal, the Braves would send a few top prospects to Chicago to land the controllable star.
Atlanta would need Robert to return to his 2023 form, where he slugged nearly 40 home runs and 40 doubles, if they want this deal to be worth it.
Trade proposal 4: Braves land potential Jurickson Profar replacement
- Braves receive: OF James Outman, RHP Bobby Miller
- Dodgers receive: RHP Owen Murphy, RHP Garrett Baumann, SS Jose Perdomo
In this deal, the Braves would land two forgotten Los Angeles Dodgers stars to give them a second shot at the big leagues. James Outman doesn’t have a clear path in Los Angeles’ outfield, but he would play in Atlanta, at least as a platoon option. Bobby Miller certainly doesn’t have a path to playing time with the Dodgers, but he could slot in Bryce Elder’s role as a member of the Braves.
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