Atlanta Braves trade rumors: Adam Duvall injury changes deadline plans

With the news that the Atlanta Braves have lost outfielder Adam Duvall to season-ending wrist surgery, the Braves could look to rebuild their outfield at the MLB trade deadline in a similar strategy to what worked so well for the franchise last season.

Atlanta Braves trade rumors: With Adam Duvall done for the season, an outfielder and right-handed hitter may be a top priority at the MLB trade deadline

Last season, the Atlanta Braves, thanks to injuries and inconsistent performances, completely rebuilt their outfield with an aggressive shopping spree at the trade deadline. The move paid off for the Braves as the team won the World Series thanks in part to performances from Eddie Rosario, Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, and Duvall, all outfielders grabbed at the trade deadline.

This season, it is now Duvall that is injured as the trade deadline approaches … but the burden to bring a large amount of outfield production to Atlanta in the wake of his injury isn’t as high of a priority as it was last season. Duvall wasn’t producing a great deal for the Braves (posting a .213/.276/.401 slash line), but did provide some power on occasion, with his 12 home runs the fifth-highest total on the team heading into Monday’s action.

With Duvall on the shelf, it’s certainly possible that the Braves could add to their current outfield mix, where right-handed batters Marcell Ozuna, Guillermo Heredia, and Orlando Arcia could be paired with the left-handed-hitting Rosario in a platoon situation. Of that group, Arcia’s .711 OPS ranks the highest, showing the Braves could certainly stand some improvement with a new face in the outfield.

Suddenly, the Braves could use another right-handed-hitting option in the outfield, and that becomes a bigger need for the team as the trade deadline approaches. Knowing the Braves are also rumored to be pursuing pitching help at the deadline as well, the balance between needs that have existed on this roster for some time and the newest need in the outfield will be a delicate deadline dance for Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos.

Adam Duvall’s injury has created a need for the Atlanta Braves, but, after last season, Anthopoulos is well aware of what it takes to find the right outfield pieces at the trade deadline.