Brent Rooker, Oakland A’s. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves are going to be surefire buyers on the trade market, but who are the perfect trade targets from the biggest possible sellers?
Particularly after erasing a small skid with a blowout victory over the Rangers on May 15, Atlanta Braves fans can go back to dreaming of a World Series. Before that, though, the expectation should certainly be that the Braves are going to work toward that goal with some moves at the trade deadline.
While general manager Alex Anthopoulos has made it clear that the club won’t make a panic trade in the wake of the Max Fried and Kyle Wright injuries, the Braves should still be eventual buyers on the trade market when the summer rolls around to fill holes on the roster.
On the flip side of the coin and where the Braves should be looking for trade targets, though, is the most likely sellers at the trade deadline. Based on what we’re seeing, it seems that the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies and, of course, the Oakland A’s will be the biggest sellers on the trade market.
So looking at these clubs, which players should Anthopoulos be eyeing already? Let’s take a look at the best Braves trade target from each of these teams.
Braves Rumors: 1 perfect trade target from each of biggest potential sellers
Braves trade target from the Oakland A’s: OF Brent Rooker
Given Atlanta’s recent history in dealing with the A’s, it certainly works in the Braves’ favor that Oakland appears primed for another trade deadline where they are looking to sell off assets as they sit with by far the worst record in baseball midway through May.
Though you could make the argument that pitching should be the biggest focus for the NL East leaders right now, there is still the predicament in left field. Marcel Ozuna has started to turn things around a bit recently, but is that something that Atlanta feels confident in moving forward? Or is that still an area where they could look to upgrade the lineup?
If it’s the latter, then Brent Rooker has to be circled as a potential option amid the season he’s having for the Athletics.
Rooker is the only player in MLB who has a better OPS than Ronald Acuña Jr. this season, posting a 1.036 mark (Acuña is at 1.024) over the 36 games he’s played for Oakland this season. He’s hitting .298 overall with 11 home runs, seven doubles, and 29 RBI on the year as well.
While this is an outlier season for Rooker in his career, that could work in the Braves’ favor. The fact that there isn’t a long track record could be a negotiating tool in order to work down the price that they have to pay to trade for the 28-year-old outfielder. In doing so, Atlanta would have the opportunity to add another dangerous bat that offers more consistency to a lineup that’s already one of the best in baseball.