Jurickson Profar is eligible to be reinstated from his PED suspension July 2 and needs to prove himself capable of being the player the Braves believed they signed to a three-year, $42MM deal in January. He’s started off hot at Gwinnett, grabbing four hits and a walk in 10 PA. As I wrote yesterday, the Braves need his bat, but they’re still looking to add an outfielder.
The Braves’ outfield is full of Ifs and Buts
After Profar’s suspension, the Braves cycled through a series of outfielders before settling on a rotation of Eli White, Stuart Fairchild, and Alex Verdugo. Verdugo started well, but was soon hitting like it was 2024, and that is not a good thing. White had a hot streak and hit three homers, but he’s since tailed off, and Fairchild was sidelined with an injury.
Braves’ left-fielders posted a .552 OPS that ranks 14th in the NL with two homers from White, putting them ahead of only the hapless Pirates. On top of that, Michael Harris II is batting only .229/.255/.345/.601 with a 62 wRC+. So, adding an outfielder who would also be a threat as a pinch hitter makes sense.
Baltimore’s Pending Departures
The first players that came to mind for me were Orioles’ DH/ outfielder/ first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, old friend Ramon Laureano, and Cedric Mullins.
O’Hearn turns 32 in July and in the final year of an extension with about $4MM remaining at the deadline. He’s currently batting .302/.383/.486/ .869 with 10 homers and posting a .383 wOBA, 149 wRC+, and 1.8 fWAR after appearing as DH 26 times, 1B 21 times, RF 15 times, and LF twice. O’Hearn would provide cover for Olson and Ozuna, as well as playing either corner outfield slot. Teams needing a first baseman or DH will also be interested, so it’s hard to predict what the Orioles might ask in return.
Braves fans know what to expect from Laureano, who’s currently having a great season. He’s batting .269/.329/.522/.851 with nine homers, a .337 wOBA, 138 wRC+, and 1.1 fWAR. Laureano is on a one-year deal and will have about $2MM remaining at the deadline. Getting Laureano back shouldn’t break the bank.
Cedric Mullins is a superb center fielder with slightly over $4MM left at the deadline. The combination of his defense and offense, as well as his status as a rental, will likely price him out of the Braves’ budget.
Angels in the Braves’ Outfield?
Every year, Taylor Ward’s name pops up as a potential trade target, and every year, the Angels don’t make a significant trade. Ward isn’t having a great – or even good – year. He turns 32 in December and is under team control via arbitration for another year, but next year’s number will be close to $10MM, and it looks like he’s on a downward path.
On the other hand, there is also Jo Adell to consider. It seems like Adell’s been around forever, but he’s just 26, earns just $2MM this year, controlled via arbitration for two more seasons, and having a league-average season – .220/.289/.459/.747, 15 homers, .372 wOBA, 108 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR – for the first time in his career.
Eh, the Mighty Moreno may not allow either a trade for either player because that’s what he does; who knows?
That’s a Wrap
The White Sox and Marlins don’t have anyone that excites me, and the Twinkies might trade Harrison Bader, but other than the usual aging veterans that teams hire to flip, there’s not much out there unless, of course, Alex Anthopoulos makes a move with someone on the roster.
Yes, I know what he said about selling, “Will. Not. Happen. Bold, italicize it, caps.” Selling implies moving a player like Chris Sale for six prospects. But I can make the case that trading a Major League player for another Major League player isn’t a sale. Maybe, just maybe, I’m becoming a cynic.
