Trade Targets: Do the Atlanta Braves need some Trevor Bauer?
By James Kunkle
It seemed like it would not even be a possibility a few months ago, but now, can the Atlanta Braves possibly make a move for Trevor Bauer of the Reds?
Since the conclusion of last season, the Cincinnati Reds made a ton of moves looking to contend as soon as this season with the likes of the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.
They had me convinced it was going to work as they were my preseason pick to win the NL Central crown in 2020. However, to this point things have not worked out smoothly and they sit 13-17 and third in the Central standings. Only two games out of a playoff spot, but perhaps they would still think of trading off Trevor Bauer?
It is important to note that Trevor Bauer will hit the free agent market after the current season and if he holds true to his words in the past, he will go year-to-year for the rest of his career when discussing contracts. Maybe that will change once he gets a lot of money thrown at him?
For that reason alone, I have wondered aloud to the other writers on this site if he fits the Atlanta Braves after this season since over the past couple seasons, they have shown willingness and almost eagerness to sign players to one-year deals. Besides, it is not like we do not have a need for him anyways.
Any club in the league would likely love to insert Bauer into their rotation. Before his last outing — which was his first “bad” one this year (4 earned runs while pitching into the 7th) — he was my favorite for the NL Cy Young, but now I’m turning that over to Atlanta Braves own Max Fried.
Going back to him being a rental though, that could also be the pivot point of any conversation the Reds might have centered around Trevor Bauer. They can easily offer him compensation after the season and take the draft pick that they would be rewarded with. So any interested club would surely still have to offer something of decent value despite the fact that they would possibly only get a handful of starts from Bauer.
The talent is undeniable though, and he is pitching better now than he ever has.
Already sitting at 49 strikeouts over 32 innings pitched, he may still eclipse 100 K’s on the year despite not even going 70 innings. Not to mention his WHIP is at a beautiful 0.735 so far this year.
Can he keep up those numbers? Maybe, but not likely. Still, the Atlanta Braves would be getting a top 30 pitcher and would have the slight advantage of talking to Bauer first before free agency begins.
Let’s just speculate that the Atlanta Braves were able to pull off this move and get him. All of a sudden, your October rotation is not as big a deficiency as it currently projects to be. Max Fried and Trevor Bauer would be a lethal 1-2… and yes I am still one holding out hope Cole Hamels is able to provide something. A solid 1-2-3 with a good bullpen to back them up.
And not to get too far ahead of myself but imagine a Fried-Bauer-Mike Soroka 1-2-3 in 2021. That could be as good as it gets in the entire game.
So as we inch closer to Monday’s trade deadline, expect all sorts of rumors to fly around. Keep it here for all the coverage of Atlanta Braves rumors.