MLB Insiders Largely Doubt Atlanta Braves Will Become Sellers at the Trade Deadline, With Some Exceptions
As the MLB trade deadline approaches, speculation swirls around whether the Atlanta Braves will be buyers or sellers. Two prominent MLB insiders have expressed skepticism that the Braves will decide to sell off key players before the deadline. While neither expects a significant sell-off, both acknowledge exceptions under certain conditions.
General Consensus: Braves Are Not Expected to Sell
Bob Nightengale, a respected MLB analyst, recently commented in his column that the Braves are unlikely to act as sellers regardless of their standing at the deadline. He identified one possible exception: designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, who is an impending free agent after the season.
According to Nightengale, even if the Braves aren’t in a playoff position, they probably won’t dismantle the roster except potentially moving Ozuna. Ozuna makes the most sense as a trade candidate because his contract expires after the season, and he might not be part of the team’s future plans. Trading him ahead of time could help the Braves salvage value before potentially losing him to free agency for nothing.
Ozuna, now 34 years old, is putting up solid numbers this season with an OPS of .841. However, there are signs he’s starting to decline compared to his performance in recent years. For Atlanta, moving him would be a way to “rip the band-aid off” if the team finds itself far from postseason contention.
Ken Rosenthal Weighs In With a Similar View, But Adds a Caveat
MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, speaking on the “Foul Territory” podcast, echoed Nightengale’s view that the Braves are unlikely to become sellers. However, he outlined a particular scenario in which a sell-off could be triggered: if the Braves fall so far behind that their playoff chances become virtually impossible.
Rosenthal explained that for the Braves to sell off assets, they would have to be “buried” in the standings—meaning they would be so far out of the race that continuing to compete wouldn’t make sense. He emphasized that with the current playoff format in the National League, which includes three wild-card spots, it’s quite difficult to be considered truly out of contention by the deadline.
“If you’re around .500, you’ve got a chance,” Rosenthal said. Even though the Braves are not currently at .500, he suggested that if by the deadline they were significantly under, say 17 games under rather than the current 7, then a sell-off might become logical.
Possible Trade Candidates and Scenarios
When discussing specific players who might be moved, both insiders highlighted Marcell Ozuna as the likeliest candidate. In addition, Raisel Iglesias, a reliever, was mentioned as someone the Braves might consider trading, especially if they decide to cut costs or reset the roster.
Rosenthal also mentioned Chris Sale’s name during a conversation with Scott Braun but clarified that he doesn’t realistically expect Sale to be dealt. Sale was referenced more as an example of a player who could have an impact if traded, not necessarily as a likely move.
Additional Braves Updates and Context
The Braves have had recent roster changes, such as activating a newly acquired reliever and optioning a left-handed pitcher, which show the team’s ongoing attempts to remain competitive. Meanwhile, some analysts have speculated whether long-term contracts have altered the Braves’ flexibility at the deadline or raised questions about manager Brian Snitker’s future—though insiders caution against jumping to conclusions about these issues.
Conclusion: Braves Likely to Hold Steady, Barring Major Downturn
In summary, the prevailing sentiment among MLB insiders is that the Braves are poised to remain buyers or at least stay put at the deadline, rather than sellers. The most likely exception involves Marcell Ozuna, who could be traded if the team decides to sell. But unless the Braves fall into a deep hole in the standings, their core roster should stay intact as they aim to make another playoff push in a highly competitive National League.
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