This season has been snakebitten from the start for the Atlanta Braves.
They were considered favorites to compete for a World Series before the 2025 season began. However, that has changed dramatically after what has been a brutal first third or so of the season.
Now is the time to start thinking about specific changes at the trade deadline that simply have to be made starting with the infield..
Atlanta has a 26% chance to make the playoffs right now and they were at 93% to start the season. It hasn’t been pretty but the Braves found a way to quell their recent losing streak with a 7-1 victory over the Brewers on Monday.
Still, this team is built to hit home runs and they’ve not been doing that. Something needs to change and maybe the front office will try to fix that at the deadline.
One of those upgrades could be made with the middle infield and, specifically, shortstop.
Braves need to consider upgrading from Nick Allen at the trade deadline
Nick Allen has been a great defensive weapon for Atlanta this season. However, much like former shortstop Orlando Arcia, he leaves a lot to be desired offensively. Allen is batting .228 on the season with a 62 wRC over 56 games played.
His exceptional defense is the only thing keeping him on this team. Allen leads the National League with a 12 OAA and is second-best in MLB behind Bobby Witt Jr. That’s reason enough for the Braves to keep him around.
finally seeing some of that nick allen power 💪 pic.twitter.com/6mg7PUIPt3
— Luz (@luzthegoosey) May 24, 2025
However, they need all the help they can get offensively. Looking deeper at his Statcast profile. And it’s even more evident Atlanta needs to find a more consistent hitting shortstop.
Allen has good numbers squaring up the baseball and with chase/whiff percentages. But that’s where all the good stops.
Allen is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, barrel %, hard-hit %, launch angle sweet-spot %, and bat speed. His strikeout and walk percentages are about league average.
That’s not what you’d like to see from a bat in the lineup. However, his defense has allowed the team to overlook that for the time being. With the trade deadline a month away, this is one position the team should consider upgrading.
Ozzie Albies had been in a horrible slump but he’s recently hit a hot streak since his friend Ronald Acuna Jr. returned and is on a 24-game on-base streak. He’s an important leader in the clubhouse so don’t expect him to be replaced.
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is a free agent after this season and the Braves could trade for him at the deadline assuming Toronto makes him available. He could be another trade and extension candidate similar to Murphy/Olson.
He’s a good offensive upgrade and plays solid defense. This would solve an offseason problem for Atlanta as well.
He is batting .269 on the season with eight homers, 17 doubles, 38 RBI, and a 108 wRC+ through 66 games. Allen clears Bichette in defensive metrics but there’s no comparison offensively. The Toronto shortstop even has an excellent strikeout rate which has been a struggle for him in the past. He would be a welcome sight for the Braves.
The only problem is that he will be a coveted item for a lot of teams and may not be available. Toronto is only a half-game out of the AL Wild Card race at the moment. So, it could be the offseason before he’s a valid option.
Atlanta could also decide to get a shortstop in the 2025 MLB draft and just be happy with Allen providing elite defense for the rest of the season.
