Atlanta Braves approach at trade deadline should be clear

With a little over 48 hours left until the July 31 trade deadline, the approach of the Atlanta Braves should be clear — get help now.

Up until this past week, we thought the approach for the Atlanta Braves heading into the trade deadline was clear.

There were no concerns about the lineup, but plenty of concerns about the starting rotation and bullpen.

Those concerns for the starting rotation and bullpen still exist, but recent injuries have thrown a wrench into the deadline approach.

You never want to have injuries to key players, but it’s kind of a blessing in disguise that this happened right before the trade deadline.

Nick Markakis and Dansby Swanson have already been placed on the IL, and Ronald Acuna Jr. had to leave the game early on Sunday after taking a knee to the neck on a stolen base.

The Atlanta Braves have great depth with guys like Charlie Culberson, Johan Camargo, Matt Joyce, and Adam Duvall ready to step up.

But those are guys you’re hoping just have to fill a spot temporarily. If any of these injuries are severe, as it sounds like the Markakis’ injury is, the Atlanta Braves may have to consider finding a more permanent replacement.

However, hopefully this woke up the front office to realize they need to trade for a bat or two before the trade deadline.

After July 31, that’s it, you can’t make any more moves. And who knows what injuries could happen the rest of the way.

The front office may have already been looking into adding some more depth for the lineup, but they definitely are now.

We have a clear picture of what the Atlanta Braves will try to do in the next 48 hours.

#1 – Find a top of the rotation starter: This is still the top priority in my opinion. And I don’t want a back of the rotation starter, we need someone to throw in the mix with Mike Soroka and Dallas Keuchel in a postseason rotation.

#2 – A closer: If you get a top of the rotation closer then that kind of lessens the need for a top closer. Whether they get the best closer on the market or someone like Alex Colome, it doesn’t matter to me. But get a closer as we currently don’t have one — my apologies to Luke Jackson.

#3 – Another utility player: Ideally the Atlanta Braves would find someone like Camargo and Culberson who can play the outfield and infield. Whit Merrifield is kind of a pipe dream there, but he doesn’t play shortstop. Freddy Glavis is probably my top choice.

#4 – Back-up catcher: If you follow me on Twitter (@ShortStopBall), then you know about my dislike for Tyler Flowers. I think the Atlanta Braves need to find a replacement for him altogether, but at the very least they need to find a veteran they can stash in Triple-A as a back-up. Unless they feel comfortable with Alex Jackson, and at this point, I’m ready for Jackson to take the place of Flowers.

It’s hard to image the Atlanta Braves checking all of those boxes before Wednesday, but in my opinion, that should be their priorities in order to hang onto the division and compete in the postseason.