The Braves are actively surveying the commerce market in an effort to bolster their outfield group, reviews Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Atlanta not too long ago introduced veteran Eddie Rosario again on a minor league deal after he was launched by the Nationals, however president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos can also be canvassing the marketplace for extra sure upgrades. Talks thus far have been “preliminary” in nature, Rosenthal provides.
There’s little shock that Atlanta is looking for to enhance its outfield combine. Ronald Acuna Jr. was misplaced for the season two months in the past when he suffered an ACL tear, and Michael Harris II remains to be on the mend from a Grade 2 hamstring pressure suffered in mid-June. That pair of accidents has left the Braves counting on Jarred Kelenic in heart discipline, the place he’s being flanked by a mix of Adam Duvall, Ramon Laureano and Luke Williams. (Laureano, like Rosario, signed a minor league cope with Atlanta after being launched earlier within the season.)
As one would think about after a pair of main accidents to starters, the manufacturing from the Atlanta outfield hasn’t been anyplace near expectation this season. Braves outfielders have mixed to hit .239/.296/.372 on the season. That batting common lands them in the midst of the pack of MLB golf equipment, however they’re twenty fourth in OBP from their outfield corps and twenty first in slugging. Going again to the time Acuna was misplaced for the season, Atlanta outfielders are hitting simply .227/.276/.374.
It’s nonetheless “early” sufficient in commerce season that various borderline Wild Card contenders haven’t dedicated to a deadline technique but. There are a handful of outfielders who’ll clearly be accessible in commerce among the many few clear-cut sellers, nevertheless. The White Sox (Tommy Pham, Luis Robert Jr., Gavin Sheets), A’s (Brent Rooker, Miguel Andujar), Marlins (Jazz Chisholm Jr.) and Angels (Kevin Pillar, Taylor Ward) all have outfielders who’re anticipated to be accessible between now and the July 30 commerce deadline. Relying on how issues play out across the league, that listing might broaden to incorporate names like Lane Thomas, Jesse Winker, Randal Grichuk, Harrison Bader, Kevin Kiermaier and Mark Canha, amongst others.
Presumably, Atlanta’s focus shall be on shorter-term options. Acuna is signed by means of 2026 with membership choices for the 2027-28 seasons. Harris is signed throughout 2030, with membership choices for the 2031-32 seasons. Kelenic is below membership management by way of arbitration by means of 2028. It’s actually doable the Braves nonetheless purchase somebody signed/managed past the present season, however any such acquisition would seemingly want some familiarity taking part in elsewhere on the diamond, because the 2025 outfield is mostly already in place.
Wage is probably going one other issue value taking into account. Per RosterResource, Atlanta’s luxury-tax ledger is simply shy of $273MM, putting them a bit greater than $4MM away from the third tier of penalization. Crossing into the third tier is the purpose at which a crew’s high choose within the following yr’s draft is pushed again 10 locations — an end result most golf equipment want to keep away from. A commerce accomplice might at all times pay down some wage to assist alleviate these considerations for the Braves, however that may additionally solely improve the fee when it comes to prospects.
