Atlanta Braves Trade Rumors Leading to Baltimore
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves recent trade rumors have them linked to the Baltimore Orioles. The three players the Braves are targeting may surprise you.
It isn’t any secret the Atlanta Braves are in the market for bullpen or pitching help. With that in mind, the report the Braves are targeting both Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy makes sense. Both players could be on the move and would be decent fits in Atlanta.
What is rather head-scratching about the MLB Trade Rumors report is the fact the Braves are interested in Jonathan Schoop as well.
Schoop is hitting a very light .229 and struggled to find any form of consistency at the plate. Schoop is a second baseman thought he can be moved around the infield.
He certainly isn’t better than Ozzie Albies and it is doubtful he would perform as well as Dansby Swanson or Johan Camargo who have both shown a flair for the dramatic in the past.
Schoop shouldn’t be in Atlanta’s plans anytime soon but either Bundy or Gausman would improve the team as the right price.
Both pitchers have ERA’s well over four but pitch in the toughest division in baseball and would benefit from a move to Atlanta.
Gausman is the more interesting option, the former top prospect yet to fully find his potential. The problem with this potential trade is the same as many others… the price.
Atlanta has made it clear they are very unwilling to trade their wealth of prospects for a rental. Trading without using your prospects is very difficult if not impossible.
In this scenario, the Braves may be more willing to lose a top prospect considering either pitcher could find form and end up in Atlanta long-term.
Next: Braves Free Agent Targets
Both pitchers will have a high price tag, one that just might be worth paying if the Braves believe they are truly one move away from making noise in this postseason.