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Atlanta Braves Rumors: Ultimate Mock Trade with San Francisco Giants

By Jake Mastroianni

PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 11: Relief pitcher Will Smith #13 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch in the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 11, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3. (Photo by Darin Wallentine/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 11: Relief pitcher Will Smith #13 of the San Francisco Giants delivers a pitch in the eighth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 11, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3. (Photo by Darin Wallentine/Getty Images) /
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With the Atlanta Braves running out of options in the free agent market, they may have to turn to trades to improve their team for 2019. Watch for Braves rumors in the trade market to come!

The San Francisco Giants appear to be rebuilding in 2019, and they have a couple of players that could satisfy the needs of the Atlanta Braves. Could they appear in Braves rumors soon?

Obviously, the Braves would love to get Madison Bumgarner. That would give them the ace they need at the top of the rotation. Unfortunately, it sounds like the Milwaukee Brewers have shown the most interest in MadBum to this point.

Some of the Giants’ relievers could also draw a lot of interest if San Francisco is indeed going to start a rebuild.

Everyone knows about Bumgarner, so I’m not going to rehash his numbers. I’ll just remind you that he’s 29-years-old and is owed $12 million in the last deal of his contract.

Will Smith and Tony Watson are a couple of relievers the Braves could go after as well.

Smith had a 2.55 ERA last year in 53 innings pitched with 71 strikeouts, 14 saves, and a WHIP of 0.98. Watson posted a 2.59 ERA in 2018 over 66 innings with 72 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.03.

Both of them are left-handed pitchers, so it wouldn’t make sense to trade for both. Although I have no problem with having a ton of lefties as long as they can get right and left-handed hitters out. Not every batter/pitcher has splits.

While Smith has the most recent experience as a closer, Watson has saved 30 games in his career, including 10 in 2017 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Smith is in his last year of arbitration, so he’ll be a free agent after the 2019 season. Watson is set to make $3.5 million in 2019 and then he has a player option for $2.5 million in 2020. If he has another solid season in 2019 I would expect him not to opt-in to that 2020 deal.

So essentially, all three of these pitchers are rental players. Because of that, I’d be very careful with what I give the Giants in return.

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I don’t know if that package would be enough for the Giants, but I’m just telling you what I would be willing to give up for MadBum and Smith or Watson.

Gohara gives them a former top prospect who has fallen off, and a Tarnok gives them a prospect that is on the rise.

That may not seem like a lot to Giants fans for one of the best pitchers in the game, but you have to keep in mind that both of those pitchers are rentals, so their value isn’t great even though they are great players.

If the Braves had to give up someone in their top seven, I would trade Kyle Wright, Gohara, and a C-level prospect. That’s probably a deal that makes more sense for the Giants.

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What the deal may look like, the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants make a lot of sense as trade partners. Hopefully, the two sides can get a deal done.

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