Atlanta Braves: A Blueprint for the Offseason
Trading post
The Braves really do have some redundancy on their current roster. Some of that will be taken care of through DFA, and some of that should happen through trade. In a few cases, if guys can’t be traded, the Braves should use the payroll flexibility they have for the 2018 season to buy out guys like Jim Johnson and Matt Kemp with expensive contracts for 2018.
Trade #1: Jim Johnson and Aaron Blair to the Angels for LHP Jose Suarez. The Braves want to clear Johnson’s salary and Blair really is a guy that they’d like to move beyond to see more of the upper-level minor league arms. Suarez is a Venezuelan signee from 2014 who doesn’t turn 20 until January, but he has an elite feel for pitching with an excellent change and premium control. He’s a guy who could really jump up with good tutelage. He may not seem like a huge return for two pitchers, but eating Johnson’s salary does lower the return somewhat.
Trade #2: Matt Kemp, all but $16M of his salary, and $1M of international dollars to the Minnesota Twins for Nick Burdi. The Twins left Burdi unprotected from the Rule 5 draft due to recovering from Tommy John surgery that will keep him out a lot of the 2018 season. If he could return to his triple-digit fastball ways coming back from surgery, the Braves would have an elite velocity arm in the bullpen. The Twins are looking to get a leg up to either sign Shohei Ohtani or even pursue some of the Braves own former prospects and would covet the international funds. More than anything, moving Kemp opens a spot in the lineup for elite prospect Ronald Acuna.
Trade #3: Matt Adams and Matt Wisler to the Royals for Brandon Maurer. Wisler is a guy who still could show well as a starter, but he’s just run into something with the Braves that doesn’t work with him. Adams offers the Royals a cushion for the loss of Eric Hosmer. Maurer has an elite fastball that he pairs with an impressive slider and change. He’s always had elite talent but never put it together, which he would have a chance to do for a season with the Braves before he’d likely either be non-tendered or just released after 2018.
Trade #4: Lucas Sims to the Astros for Colin Moran. Essentially a swap of guys who have reached the majors with their clubs without a spot to play. Moran’s a solid 3B that would allow the Braves to work with Camargo, Ruiz, and Moran to cover third base as they wait for Austin Riley to take over the position. Sims has seemingly become an additional arm among the Braves top arms, and he could be expendable in a deal like this. The Braves could also instead choose to pursue J.D. Davis, basically in the same situation with perhaps more power.
Next: Rule 5