Braves could be active on trade market, may take cautious approach to free agency
Oct. 19: While the Braves
may have at least $60 million to address their multiple needs, which include a catcher, a corner outfielder, bullpen depth and a frontline starter, they may take a cautious approach to the free-agent market to avoid deals that hinder them down the road.
"We're not going to just walk in the store and buy because we have money in our pockets," general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. "If we don't find the right deal with something we like, there's still other opportunities to shop. There could be opportunities next season. If you start signing guys to big, long deals, if you feel good about the deal, you do it now. I wouldn't force a deal right now that would limit you in years from now."
Atlanta, though, could be active on the trade market, as the club has significant prospect depth from which to deal. Exploring a trade for Marlins catcher
J.T. Realmuto could be a top priority.
Of course, that doesn't mean the Braves should be completely ruled out as potential suitors for some of the top free agents on the market. While they are unlikely to make offers to
Bryce Harper or
Manny Machado, they could target left-hander
Patrick Corbin, or potentially seek a reunion with closer
Craig Kimbrel. Both hurlers would fill needs for the club.
Atlanta also hasn't ruled out re-signing right fielder
Nick Markakis or catcher
Kurt Suzuki, though they would prefer to add a surefire starting catcher so
Tyler Flowers can move to a backup role.
"I don't think with our club, with what we have, that the value is going to be there in the free-agent market," Anthopoulos said. "It doesn't mean it won't. We'll certainly explore it. But if I could sit here in the middle of October, I'd say it's more likely we go the trade route. It's not ideal to give up young assets, but it's also not ideal to do a deal you don't believe in -- that may look good for a year or two, and then in years three, four and five, it does not."
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