Call to the pen
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3 potential trade targets for Atlanta Braves

By David Hill

May 26, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez (1) turns a double play at second base ahead of a slide by Colorado Rockies first baseman Connor Joe (9) during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Cesar Hernandez (1) turns a double play at second base ahead of a slide by Colorado Rockies first baseman Connor Joe (9) during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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What a difference a couple of days make when it comes to trade targets for the Atlanta Braves.

Second base would not have been a concern for the Braves. While Ozzie Albies had been scuffling at the plate, the two time All Star has enough of a track record where there was no reason for concern. Then Albies fractured his foot, pushing the position to near the top of the priority list.

Three potential trade targets for the Atlanta Braves

That is not the only area of concern in Atlanta. Although the Braves are getting other pieces back in the coming weeks, they still have holes to fill. As they proved last year, a few shrewd deals could lead to a championship.

The Atlanta Braves shopping list is suddenly a lot different than it was a day or two ago. Let’s look at three possible trade targets.

Cesar Hernandez

If the Atlanta Braves are going to look for a second baseman, they are likely going to target players on expiring contracts.

For now, Orlando Arcia and Phil Gosselin are going to take over. Gosselin is a solid enough role player, and Arcia has been surprisingly strong with the bat in a limited sample size, but neither player has a history of sustained success. A trade would make a tremendous amount of sense.

The Braves may not need to look outside of their division. Cesar Hernandez has been relatively solid for the Nationals this season, posting a .268/.318/.330 batting line in his 281 plate appearances entering Tuesday, hitting 14 doubles. He is not going to provide much power, but he is a former Gold Glove winner and makes plenty of contact.

Considering the overall strength of the Braves’ lineup, that may be all they need. Hernandez would be a solid enough stopgap for the rest of the year, allowing Arcia to return to his utility role without the Braves needing to worry if his bat will continue to produce at its current level.

The Atlanta Braves suddenly need a second baseman. It may not take much to land Cesar Hernandez, but he could be a great fit.

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