MLB Rumors: Alex Anthopoulos won the Raisel Iglesias trade
Atlanta still features Raisel Iglesias at closer, and frankly that would have been enough to win their 2022 trade with the Los Angeles Angels. Yet, it gets far worse for Perry Minasian.
Iglesias ended up being a bargain for Anthopoulos and Co. The complete trade, as illustrated below, didn't end up costing the Braves all that much at the time.
Now, on the surface this wouldn't have been such a noticeably bad trade had these same players not returned to Atlanta.
Chavez owns a career-low 1.51 ERA this season after he was released by the Angels. Tucker Davidson may soon deal with the same date, as he posted a 6.72 ERA with the Angels and was thus DFA'd. If Atlanta were to re-sign and thus rebuild Davidson, this may be the best trade deadline robbery of all time.
Yes, Iglesias is not the best player ever dealt come late July, but hear me out. Consider the fact that Atlanta traded two player to Los Angeles who were DFA'd shortly thereafter. What makes matters even better is that those same players could return to the Braves and resurrect their careers.
Consider the Iglesias trade a Alex Anthopoulos master class. We are all witnesses.
Braves Rumors: Vaughn Grissom's value just went up
Vaughn Grissom is the most likely Braves player to be traded, per The Athletic. It's an odd place to be, especially for a player who was expected to be the eventual replacement at shortstop once Dansby Swanson left for the Chicago Cubs.
Yet, Grissom hasn't worked out at shortstop, and may need a position change despite working with Ron Washington all offseason. Grissom's bat is as solid as ever, though, as he's hitting .321 in the minor leagues with the trade deadline approaches. As great as Grissom has performed in Gwinnett, it's more or less a waste at this point. Grissom is took good of a player to be starting in Triple-A. Frankly, he deserves a major-league opportunity with a team that believes in him and is willing to develop him defensively.
In Atlanta, that is complicated. Orlando Arcia made the NL All-Star team this season. He was expected to be a short-term option, but Arcia has since taken over the position. He signed an extension, and the former Brewers top prospect isn't moving off short for Grissom, a player who has struggled to adapt defensively.
Here's what The Athletic had to say about Grissom's trade value:
"Seen as a possible replacement for Dansby Swanson at one point, Grissom has fallen behind both veteran Orlando Arcia and fellow prospect Braden Shewmake in the pecking order. He's also, obviously, behind Ozzie Albies. Grissom played second for an injured Albies last season and put up a 118 OPS+ in 41 games. He struggled in his big-league stint this year but is thriving at Triple A."
if Atlanta is smart, they will trade Grissom while they have the chance.
Braves Rumors: Is Atlanta done adding?
Just a few short weeks ago, FanSided's John Buhler theorized that Atlanta shouldn't add much at the trade deadline, instead focusing on minor upgrades and keeping the team together. There is an argument to be made that, rather than breaking up a clubhouse that has been in-sync all season long, the ideal trade deadline scenario is one that involves no moves at all.
Yet, Alex Anthopoulos has acted, somewhat. He added some power arms in the bullpen, albeit players who need quite a bit of development. This week, the Braves added former Cubs relief pitcher Rowan Wick. Many of their recent moves feel like lottery tickets more than sure things, which come with their own layer of risk.
Atlanta would be wise to add a high-profile relief pitcher add the deadline, such as a Michael Fulmer type. Fulmer has an ERA over four, but he has postseason experience and has been dealing since a rough start to the season. Atlanta is lacking another mid-relief option for now. A.J. Minter is coming back, but by no means are the Braves set in the bullpen. Buhler, for one, thinks there's a significant reason for making a deal, even if it's a minor one:
"Well, I think the downsides of not making a move are pretty substantial. First, it gives off the impression that Anthopoulos was asleep at the wheel, even though he most certainly was not. Regardless, the fanbase would react as such. While holding onto players in the minors could be great to offset injuries, what happens if the rotation or the bullpen lets you down in late October?"
Thankfully, it seems like Atlanta is active.
