Atlanta Braves Open to Trading Outfielders This Offseason

The Atlanta Braves enter the hot stove period of the MLB offseason with many questions to address as they prepare for the 2016 season.

With last week’s report that the Atlanta Braves intend to move third-baseman Hector Olivera to left-field next season, it fueled speculation that the team would probably move one or more of their outfielders. Today, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman confirmed this speculation, tweeting:

With their outfield surplus, the #Braves are open to moving and taking on some money for both Bourn or Swisher.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) November 9, 2015

Given the Atlanta Braves’ intention to move Hector Olivera to the outfield, Mallex Smith making a push for a starting role next season, as well as Nick Markakis entrenched in right-field, it makes sense that the organization would try to trade one or more outfielders. Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, and to a greater extend Cameron Maybin are all assets that the Atlanta Braves will try to move.

Bowman elaborated on this in a subsequent tweet, explaining what players were likely to get traded:

Given that it won't be easy to move Bourn or Swisher, the Braves might end up trading Maybin to create financial flexibility for other needs
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) November 9, 2015

Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher’s contracts are not the most team friendly, and it will take more for the Atlanta Braves to move them than Cameron Maybin. Because of how expensive the contracts of both Bourn and Swisher are, any trade involving those players would require the Atlanta Braves to take on more salary in exchange. Given the club’s recent efforts to rid themselves of albatross contracts, taking on more salary would not fit into what the team would like to do.

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Cameron Maybin is perhaps the most attractive trade asset the Atlanta Braves currently have in their surplus of outfielders. His contract is not nearly as prohibitive as Swisher’s or Bourn’s, and despite a mediocre second half of the 2015 season, is the most likely to net a good haul in a trade, given his age and potential as a productive outfielder. Maybin got off to a hot start in 2015, but instead of trading him at his peak value, the Atlanta Braves will probably receive less in return should they decide to move him this offseason.

Of course, another option for the Atlanta Braves to consider is to retain Maybin, Bourn and Swisher. Swisher’s ability to play first-base and pinch hit gives them a valuable bat off the bench; and if Mallex Smith is not ready during Spring Training to ascend to the majors as a starter in the outfielder, it may serve the Atlanta Braves well to allow their Minor League Player of the Year some more time to develop at the minor league level.

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If Cameron Maybin can replicate his success from last year early during the 2016 season, perhaps we see the Atlanta Braves wait to trade him in order to see his value increase over the course of next season. Though Michael Bourn is no longer the same threat he was at the plate or on the base-paths than he was during his first stint with the club, Bourn could still yield some value in either a trade or if the Atlanta Braves decide to retain him.

I believe the most likely scenario is that the Atlanta Braves will choose to trade Cameron Maybin this offseason in another effort to build up their farm system. Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher will remain with the team going into next season, with Michael Bourn competing against rookie Mallex Smith for the starting role in center-field. Cameron Maybin is now a fan favorite in Atlanta, but as we Braves fans now know after a plethora of trades over the past year, it’s bad idea to get attached to any player on the team going forward.

Next: Atlanta Braves: What Would Constitute a Successful 2016 Season?

With the MLB Winter Meetings ongoing, and the hot stove continuing to heat up, keep it here for ongoing updates on the Atlanta Braves.

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