All I want for an Atlanta Braves Christmas is…

After due consideration, here’s our Atlanta Braves offer for Nolan Arenado

Assumption 1:  Arenado’s opt-out clause will either be waived or ignored — as noted previously, market conditions suggest that taking the opt-out isn’t a winning option for the player.

Assumption 2:  Arenado’s no-trade clause would be bought out successfully as he accepts a trade to Atlanta… an organization with a chance to win immediately.

The idea behind any trade deal is to provide acceptable value on both sides — not just for the purposes of getting the deal done, but so that your choices are acceptable and understandable when you explain them to your fanbase.

If the Rockies are to eat enough of Arenado’s contract to reduce the rate to $20 million for a receiving team, that means $15 million each year for 4 years, $12 million for a fifth year, and $7 million for year 6… 2026.

That’s a total $79 million.  While Colorado would save $120 million, they’d clearly want significant talent in return for those monies.  Here goes:

• Austin Riley.  Clearly, he’d have to be part of this package.  I can’t imagine how many homers above 500 feet he’d club in Denver, but that would be a draw, no doubt.
• Drew Waters.  Having a young and skilled outfielder who could handle the big spaces in Denver would certainly be appealing.  He’s also not yet on the 40-man roster, which is important here.
• Bryse Wilson or Kyle Wright.  My hunch is that they’d take Wright in a heartbeat, but the Braves should lead with Wilson and go to Wright only if they have to.
• Sean Newcomb or Touki Toussaint.  Both are change-of-scenery guys with the hope that they might flourish better in Denver… not likely, but at this point, we’re beyond the “headliners” on this deal.
• Ender Inciarte.  It’s only for one year (and the Rox need a competent center fielder), but the Braves need to move this salary.  That might be a sticking point for Colorado, though… he might have to be dealt separately.
• Kyle Muller.  Another high-upside prospect, but he was just protected on the 40-man roster, so that could be tricky offering so many rostered players.

The wild cards that the Rockies might ask for include one of the catchers (Contreras or Langeliers — the former being on the 40-list), SS Braden Shewmake, or LHP Tucker Davidson (on 40-man).

In total, a 5-for-2 swap might be in order with Atlanta taking back one of their $2-to-$4-million relievers to both help balance out the 40-man roster and incentivize them to accept Inciarte.

Would this be enough to get Colorado to yield?  It should be.  Would it be enough to beat any other suitors?  That I’m less certain of… but my obsession with this topic continues as the Braves certainly could do this if they want to make The Big Deal.

This is the Fred McGriff trade for this generation’s team.  It’s the move to put them over the top.  It’s the finishing piece to set them up for the next five years or so.

Look:  the Braves have already lost Mike Foltynewicz without getting anything in return because his issues cropped up quickly and “repairing” them didn’t work out.  There are many other pitching prospects still in the system who are lingering with make-or-break chances on the fence.

Better, then, to use these guys to try and get a known consistent star player that will put this team over the top.  Better to do for in a year where you can take advantage of the “uncertainty” causing difficulty for many other clubs.

Better to make the Atlanta Braves a better team so that they can be the odds-on favorite for a World Series title in 2021… and perhaps longer.