The Atlanta Braves‘ will be buyers at this year’s trade deadline. The real question is how aggressive president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will be. In years past, he has chosen to hold onto prospects rather than trade them for proven pieces, confident in the group he has built in Atlanta.
That could change this year, though, as the Braves have more holes than ever and the pressure is building to add a proven arm to the rotation alongside Chris Sale. Many of their internal options have simply not panned out.
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That leaves Atlanta with a decision to make on whether they will deal one of their prized prospects. MLB.com believes they could, naming their second-ranked prospect, outfielder Eric Hartman, as the organization’s most significant trade chip heading into the deadline.
“Hartman, the Braves’ No. 2 prospect and No. 77 overall, might be the game’s most interesting trade chip this year. The 20-year-old outfielder has hit .281 with 21 homers, 31 stolen bases and a .902 OPS over 80 games for High-A Rome. The question: Should the Braves deal him now, with the hope his value will never get any higher? Or should they keep the young outfielder with the confidence he could soon become one of the game’s top superstars?” the outlet wrote.
It is a genuinely fascinating dilemma. Hartman was selected in the 20th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, making his rise through the system historically impressive. However, he has not played at the big-league level yet, meaning there is always a chance the production does not translate.
Trading him now would guarantee Atlanta lands a proven arm, and for a team built to win right now, that guarantee could be the difference between an early October exit and a deep run to the World Series.
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A few options of players Hartman’s inclusion could help acquire include Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha or Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize. The Braves could also package Hartman with another top prospect and truly go all in by pursuing two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, forming a partnership with Sale that would instantly become the most dangerous rotation duo in October baseball.
The Braves do have outfield openings that fit Hartman’s timeline down the road, with Ronald Acuna Jr. being the only truly locked-in piece in the outfield long term. But with Atlanta holding a slim lead in the National League East, Anthopoulos has real decisions to make before the deadline arrives.
