Atlanta Braves: Could Yasiel Puig be headed to Atlanta?

Jul 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Braves just came out of the non-waiver trade deadline adding Matt Kemp and a couple of other pieces. Now that teams can only pick up players off of waivers, will the Braves go after a player that would instantly help their offense?

The Atlanta Braves are in the middle of a rebuilding period where they are awaiting young prospects to make it to the big leagues and showcase their talent. Brian Snitker is the interim manager for now, but could be the manager of the future. Having a player that could revamp the offense would only help Snitker and Atlanta.

Seeing Yasiel Puig in an Atlanta Braves jersey would be an interesting sight for Braves fans. How Puig conducted himself in Los Angeles is still noted by Atlanta fans. Puig might just need a change of scenery to become the player he is capable of.

What it Would Mean

If Yasiel Puig were to join the Atlanta Braves off of waivers, it would bring excitement to the ballpark and bring a star to Atlanta again. This season Puig is hitting .260 with seven home runs and 34 RBI’s. If the Braves were to add Puig, one would have to think that they would have to move Nick Markakis to make room for him.

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If the Atlanta Braves were to add Puig, they would be receiving a player who needs to be mentored and given advice on how to handle things off the field. Newly acquired, Matt Kemp would be a great player to do that, especially since he has played in Los Angeles before.

Where Puig is Now

Right after the trade deadline, the Dodgers sent Puig to Triple- A to work on some of his problems. There have been multiple reports stating that the Dodgers are willing to trade him and are listening to offers.

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If the Atlanta Braves wanted to add Puig, they would probably have to give the Dodgers some of their pitching prospects in addition to Markakis and one or two other players. As long as the asking price is not steep, I would not rule out John Coppolella making the move.

Moving Forward

With the Atlanta Braves moving into SunTrust Park next year, Puig could be right in the center of the unveiling. Snitker and the new management team will look to attract fans and players to the new ballpark. What better way to do that than to add a young superstar.

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Puig is rough around the edges now, but if he falls to the right team and adopts the culture, the sky is the limit. He could be the player that you build around and the Atlanta Braves would love to be that team.