Atlanta Braves’ trade deadline takeaways

There was discussion.  There was rumor.  There was movement.  But in the end, none of that – save for the deal sending Jaime Garcia to New York via Minnesota – happened for the Braves.

Always a bridesmaid; never the bride?  That’s probably the general feeling among fans of the Atlanta Braves today as a predicted “meh” trade deadline came to fruition Monday afternoon.

So what do we make of this?  It’s pretty simple, actually.  Because it would have been the same answer even if the team had participated in a flurry of trades:

It’s all about 2018 and beyond now.

So now we need to look long and hard at the members of this club – on and off the various rosters – and figure out who fulfills a long-term need for the franchise and who doesn’t.

For while this trade deadline could have played a part in the coming future, its results mean that this Winter has become more important.

Here’s how that might play out, then:

The Outfield

• THE PRESENT.  Matt Kemp, Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis
• THE FUTURE.  Kemp (probably), Inciarte, and Acuna.

The future is going to mean trying to find a place to trade Nick Markakis this Winter.  It would be more about Matt Kemp, but his contract will be the limiting factor.

The Braves owe Kemp another $43.5 million after 2017 (sure – there’s a bit coming from other sources, but that’s how much he will get).  He’s played well, but will turn 34 next season and doesn’t move like him once did, so unless an important DH role opens up, he will most likely still be with us.

That’s probably okay, given his bat, but it’s why Markakis will probably be the odd man out as Ronald Acuna‘s break-out season in the minors will be tough to ignore.  Markakis is due $11 million, and a deal could be found to free that spot for Acuna.