Atlanta Braves: Could Be Buying not Selling in 2017

The Atlanta Braves have had a very streaky start to the season but for the first time in a while could not  be sellers in 2017. If the team can stay around .500 the front office should become buyers.

The Atlanta Braves sit a few games under .500 after losing two out of three to the Mets but have maintained a healthy season average and seem to pile up wins and losses in bunches. If that continues and the Braves maintain their current record of being a few games under .500 this could be the first season in quite a while that they are not sellers before the trade deadline.

Selling off a slew of veteran talent to other teams has become something of a tradition for this new Braves regime at times sending the same players from the year before for a prospect or two. The sell off generally starts in June and goes until the trade deadline. This may be the first year that the Braves could take the opposite approach.

Selling off players in a new stadium trying to sell tickets is counter productive and not the way that the Braves are going to go with a fan base that they are already struggling not to alienate. Many fans are yet to forgive the Braves for selling off fan favorites like Evan Gattis or Jason Heyward.

While the moves were needed they were also painful and the fan base is just now beginning to recover and a sell off in a new stadium would not be a good look. That may not mean that the Braves will be buyers but if they are anywhere near contending for a wild card spot the team could well add some complimentary pieces to attempt to make it back to postseason play.

Next: Braves Previewing the lineup

Both the bench and the rotation could use more than one addition if the Braves want to make a big move adding to their veteran rotation could be a good move to make. As for the bench it would be hard to have a much worse bench the Braves could use a legitimate 4th outfield option as well as a power threat to use late off the bench.