Atlanta Braves: Top Trade Chips for the 2017 Season
By Kit Anderson
Aging Starters
The biggest priority of the Braves off-season was improving their rotation for the 2017 season and beyond. They have done just that by adding a lot of veteran arms and continuing to collect as many pitching prospects as they can fit onto their rosters.
The Braves had long been known for their pitching before the last few seasons and are trying to head back in that direction. This season is another rebuilding year with the Braves still waiting on one or more of their young arms to prove themselves ready for the Major Leagues.
If that happens or even if it doesn’t and the Braves fall out of it early they have plenty of valuable starters to offer teams looking to anchor the bottom of their rotations. Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey, Kris Medlen, and Jaime Garcia are all expected to get time with the Major League team this season.
It is hard to guess what exactly these starters could garner in return without knowing how they will perform coming off injuries and getting a year older. Best case scenario Colon, Dickey, or Garcia should be able to be traded for a Major League piece or a lower end prospect that needs a fresh start. Considering Medlen’s contract and injury history it is doubtful that he would receive much interest as a starter in the trade market.