Atlanta Braves: Five All-Star Position Player Wish List
By John Buhler
Since we are now officially in the All-Star Break with the Home Run Derby coming tonight and the Mid-Summer Classic on tomorrow’s slate, I’m realizing how disappointed I am that the Atlanta Braves sent the minimum number of All-Stars (one, just SP Shelby Miller) to Cincinnati this year.
Maybe it’s how terrible the road sweep was in Colorado, how the Atlanta Braves’ offense couldn’t score more than three runs in any ball game. Perhaps I was envious of the Rockies’ dynamite offensive attack (if they could only pitch worth a lick…), that got me thinking, who would I want John Hart to acquire for the Atlanta Braves by the time we’re back to contending for championships in 2017.
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To even get in that conversation, the Braves are going to need some All-Star caliber players in their everyday lineup. Freddie Freeman is one and Andrelton Simmons, Jace Peterson, Nick Markakis, and even Cameron Maybin have had solid first halves for the Braves this year. But what if Hart could either trade for or acquire another All-Star player in free agency in the next couple of years? Wouldn’t that be great? And if we could pursue any position player in the Big Leagues, who would we want?
Let’s be real for three seconds. Andrew McCutchen, Yasiel Puig, Nolan Arenado, Bryce Harper, and Mike Trout are never coming to Atlanta. They are all franchise players in the respective markets and their clubs would be foolish to let their stars walk out the door. But who is in that next tier? Who has been an All-Star before that could potentially leave their current team and come play for the Atlanta Braves? These are the guys I’m interested seeing play in SunTrust Park. Here are five position players I would love to see with the Atlanta A on their ball caps in the next few seasons.
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