Braves Top 5 trade Chips As Offseason Begins

With so many needs to fill this offseason, one would think the Braves are a prime candidate to swing one of the bigger trades of the offseason.

It’s been the preferred avenue of choice for general manager Alex Anthopoulos during his tenure in Atlanta. The biggest free agent he’s ever signed to the Braves — in terms of contract value — was Marcell Ozuna, a $65 million deal over four years. Meanwhile, he’s acquired Sean Murphy, Matt Olson, and Chris Sale via trade — and he even recently discussed how the Braves were in on Garrett Crochet last offseason before he was traded to the Red Sox.

It would be pretty shocking if Atlanta didn’t make at least one noteworthy trade this offseason, but what do they have at their disposal that might attract rebuilding teams?

Hurston Waldrep

Waldrep is likely the arm most teams would inquire about after his impressive rookie campaign with the Braves. He started 12 games and posted a 2.88 ERA with a 3.21 FIP, capping off a remarkable turnaround after struggling last year and carrying those issues into the early part of this season. Some midseason mechanical adjustments and tweaks to his pitch mix paid huge dividends, transforming him into one of the most promising young arms in Atlanta’s system. The Braves shouldn’t be eager to move Waldrep — especially given their current rotation concerns — but for the right return, he’s boosted his value enough to headline a significant trade package.

JR Ritchie

Nobody had a better year on the farm for the Braves than 2022 first-round pick JR Ritchie. It was his first full healthy professional season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and he delivered a 2.64 ERA over 140 innings while opponents hit just .175 against him. Ritchie is knocking on the door of the majors and will get a long look by the Braves in Spring Training next year, which makes him a very attractive piece for any team.

Cam Caminiti

The Braves first-round pick in 2024 might not be close to the majors yet, but he turned in a fantastic first season with the organization, posting a 2.08 ERA over 13 starts with Low-A Augusta. Caminiti just turned 19 years old and has legitimate frontline starter potential, ranked by most as the top prospect in the Braves organization. He’d fetch a very hefty return if included in a trade.

Michael Harris II

Looking at the talent on the major-league roster that the Braves might actually consider moving, Michael Harris II stands out as a possibility. He’s an elite defensive center fielder coming off the worst offensive season of his career, but there would still be no shortage of teams lining up for his upside and his team-friendly contract, which keeps him under control for the next seven seasons. It would take a blockbuster trade to move him, but reports from the trade deadline suggested the Braves were open to dealing pieces from their major-league roster this offseason.

Didier Fuentes

Fuentes made his MLB debut this past season just after his 20th birthday, and while the results were rough — a 13.85 ERA over four starts — it shouldn’t overshadow the fact that the Braves think highly enough of him to promote him that quickly. He showed why in his return to Gwinnett, posting a 3.63 ERA over five starts and further cementing himself as one of the organization’s most promising young arms.