Atlanta Braves: 5 players most likely to be traded this offseason

With the hot stove season approaching, we take a look at five Atlanta Braves players who could be on the move this offseason.

Trying to guess what any team will do in the offseason is a fool’s errand, but trying to guess what Alex Anthopoulos and the Atlanta Braves will do seems like a waste of time.

But, we have all the time in the world with the offseason approaching, so I’ll give it my best shot and look at five players who could be traded this winter.

Last offseason AA didn’t make a single noteworthy trade, but instead stuck to the free agent market by signing Josh Donaldson, Brian McCann, and Nick Markakis.

All three of those moves mostly worked out, especially Donaldson — the move most people probably questioned.

It’s very reasonable to assume that AA will go the same route this offseason and try to improve the team through free agency.

Even though the Atlanta Braves are in a win-now mode, trades aren’t always about improving the team for the following season.

He can make trades to clear payroll for a bigger free agent signing or blockbuster trade, or he could make a trade to help keep the farm system strong.

When AA took over he was afraid to trade any of the Atlanta Braves top prospects before he knew what he had. Now after two full seasons as the Braves GM, he should know exactly what he has.

I expect him to be more aggressive this offseason, and during the 2020 season, in trading prospects.

He’s done a great job so far of making trades without giving up highly ranked prospects.

But if there is a move out there that he feels can make the Atlanta Braves World Series contenders in 2020, he needs to pull the trigger.

I’ll write another article soon about which prospects could be traded, but right now we’re going to focus on players already on the active roster who could be moved this offseason.