The Atlanta Braves are beginning to regain their footing after a frustrating stretch in July that allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to tighten the race atop the National League East. Atlanta also built some positive momentum by taking its recent series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With the MLB trade deadline approaching, Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has already made it clear that the club intends to be aggressive if it remains in contention.
“I fully expect and hope that we will be engaged in trades come July. I’m not trying to overly excite anybody or promise anything. But if we’re playing the way we are right now, we’re going to be in there,” Anthopoulos said.
Although reinforcing the pitching staff remains Atlanta’s primary objective, adding another productive outfielder could also be high on the team’s shopping list. The Braves have struggled to generate consistent offense from their corner outfield positions for much of the season.
As Fred Owens of HTHB pointed out, Atlanta’s lineup has lacked the firepower that made it one of baseball’s most feared offenses in 2023.
“The Atlanta Braves’ lineup isn’t the long, strong force of nature fans watched and loved in 2023. The left side of the infield’s production, Austin Riley’s in particular, would fit in a thimble, and aside from Mauricio Dubón, corner outfielders aren’t a lot better. No help is coming at short or third, so outfield bats are a priority.”
If the Braves decide to pursue an impact outfielder, Minnesota Twins standout Byron Buxton could emerge as one of the most intriguing trade targets available.
ESPN insiders Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan recently highlighted Buxton’s unique combination of athleticism and power, noting that the former No. 2 overall pick has finally developed into the player scouts envisioned over a decade ago.
“The report on Buxton is still pretty similar to when he went No. 2 in the 2012 draft: elite runner and defender with loud bat speed. The difference is the bat speed in high school turned into regular in-game power by his mid-20s and now, in his early 30s, he is hitting some of the high-end projections for 30-plus homer potential more than a decade later. Basically everything you dreamed of with Buxton has come true, with injuries/durability being the only negative.”
Buxton also fits the mold of players Anthopoulos has targeted throughout his tenure in Atlanta, particularly those with Georgia connections. The Braves have previously added hometown stars such as Matt Olson and Sean Murphy, while Michael Harris II developed into one of the franchise’s homegrown cornerstones.
The Twins center fielder is currently playing under a $100 million contract, and while his injury history has long been the biggest question surrounding his value, Atlanta could lessen that concern by carefully managing his workload. Buxton would immediately provide a significant offensive upgrade while bringing Gold Glove-caliber defense, and he could comfortably shift to left field if needed. The biggest obstacle to any potential deal, however, would be convincing Buxton to waive the no-trade clause included in his contract.