Bleacher Report proposes blockbuster trade target for Braves
The Braves have next to no holes on their roster. Their offense is fresh off a historically great season, becoming the first team in MLB history to record a slugging percentage north of .500 as a group. They also tied the record for the most home runs ever by a team in a single season with 307. The Braves are returning seven of eight starting position players, and the one replacement — Jarred Kelenic — certainly has a chance to be a significant upgrade over Eddie Rosario.
The pitching staff is equally as daunting. After experiencing a plethora of injuries over the last couple of seasons, Alex Anthopoulos didn’t mess around this offseason, bringing back Charlie Morton, Pierce Johnson, and Joe Jimenez, while adding Aaron Bummer, Reynaldo Lopez, and Chris Sale. From top to bottom, this is one of the best rosters ever put together. It’s that talented, but there’s always some room for improvement, and the obvious answer is the shortstop position.
Orlando Arcia did a fine job replacing Dansby Swanson, especially in the first half, which led to him being named to his first NL All-Star team. However, the second half left a lot to be desired, and it’s fair to question which version the Braves are going to get of Arcia in 2024, which is why Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report wants to see Alex Anthopoulos take one more big swing and pry Willy Adames away from Milwaukee.
Adames is a player I’ve talked about in the past as a potential target for the Braves. Because, like Rymer, I recognize that Orlando Arcia is one of the worst starting shortstops in the game. His defense is adequate, but he doesn’t bring much to the table offensively, even if he’s experienced much more success at the plate than he did in Milwaukee.
Adames would be a significant upgrade to the Braves lineup and add even more power and depth to the best offense in baseball. Imagining him with a tomahawk across his chest sitting at the bottom of the Braves order would be a nightmare for opposing pitchers. It’s also not out of the realm of possibilities.
