Tyler O’Neill, St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
At the MLB Winter Meetings, the Atlanta Braves should talk to these three teams about a potential trade.
The Atlanta Braves have a couple of roster holes they should be looking to fill or improve this offseason. There are some areas where they have a surplus. Other roster spots lack championship-quality players.
Atlanta is already a strong team and an easy choice to make it to the postseason. They have an amazing young core. Unfortunately, they also have some areas on the roster that may only continue to drag the team down in 2023.
The MLB Winter Meetings will be a chance for the Braves to get a little closer with other organizations and maybe cut a deal. It’s these three teams Atlanta should cozy up to most and maybe make a deal.
1. Braves have a couple of trades they can make with the Cardinals at the Winter Meetings
No two teams might be a perfect match for a trade than the Braves and St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves can trade them catcher Travis d’Arnaud and the Cardinals can spare outfielders. A straight-up d’Arnaud for Tyler O’Neill doesn’t completely work, but it’s a good start.
Atlanta needs a better plan with their catcher situation than to limit William Contreras for another season. They also can’t continue to keep Marcell Ozuna out in left field. If he stays with the team, it’s DH duties and nothing else.
O’Neill or one of the other many outfielders the Cardinals have within their organization make a lot of sense for Atlanta. Other plays, like Alec Burleson or Dylan Carlson, are desirable, too.
In addition to d’Arnaud, Braves infielders Vaughn Grissom and Ozzie Albies could be unexpected matches for the Cardinals. Grissom could end up as the St. Louis answer at shortstop. The Braves could always move Albies instead and the Cardinals can have Tommy Edman as their shortstop instead.
The possibilities are plentiful with these two clubs. They can discuss it over lunch at the Winter Meetings.