Atlanta Braves: Will Deadline Deals Give the Braves a Postseason Surge?

The Atlanta Braves front office made a flurry of moves on Tuesday bringing fresh arms and a power bat to Atlanta. Did the Braves do enough to make the postseason?

Watching the Atlanta Braves front office work during the trading frenzy was entertaining. The team managed to trade for three bullpen arms, a starter, and a power hitter without giving up a top ten prospect.

Not only did they keep all of their top prospects the team only traded two highly thought of prospects. In exchange Brad Brach, Jonny Venters, Kevin Gausman, Adam Duvall, and Darren O’Day are all in Atlanta.

It was an impressive haul in a perfect flurry of moves. You allowed the team to get better and improve their postseason chances without hurting their future or taking on bad contracts.

Gausman and Duvall are perhaps the most impactful deals. Duvall is struggling so far this season hitting only .205 but he is a power hitter who is much better than his average shows slugging 30+ homers each of the last two years.

He is expected to play left field while Ronald Acuna Jr. will switch to center to give Ender Inciarte days off.

He will also serve as a late-inning pinch-hit power threat the team was lacking. Duvall is under contractual control for three more seasons as well and could be in Atlanta for some time to come.

Kevin Gausman is the most intriguing piece the Braves added and here is why.  The team is in need of a consistent starter and while Gausman has an ERA northwards of four he also has plenty of talent and has been pitching in the tough American League East.

Moving to a lighter hitting division with a better lineup and bullpen behind him should show results for Gausman. He could be the missing piece for Atlanta to complete a trio of consistent pitchers.

Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb both have pitched well this season, but everyone else has been inconsistent at best. Gausman has a chance to stabilize the Braves rotation and allow the team three starters they can count on.

If he can do that the team’s postseason chances will be greatly improved. Overall the Braves pushed themselves much closer to making the postseason as they try to overcome a summer slump.

With a series win against Miami, the team is trending in the right direction trailing the division-leading Phillies by only half a game.

The bullpen was patched as well with the addition of Brad Brach and Jonny Venters. Two experienced arms who should make the Braves bullpen much better.

Overall the trade deadline was the perfect scenario for the Braves. Not only does it push them closer to the postseason but they didn’t hurt their future and will allow the young core to learn how to win when it counts.