The Atlanta Braves rode a historic offense to a 104-win regular season but saw their bats go silent against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series. While they’re well-positioned to win the National League East for a seventh consecutive season, the Braves need to make further improvements to feel comfortable about their World Series potential.
Here’s one trade and one signing the Braves should make this offseason.
Trade: Acquire White Sox RHP Dylan Cease
With arguably the top offensive core in MLB locked up for the better part of the next decade, the Braves can turn their full attention toward their starting rotation. Atlanta has Cy Young Award hopefuls in left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Spencer Strider leading its staff, but it could stand to gain from adding another quality arm since the rest of the rotation has concerns. RHP Charlie Morton will be entering his age-40 season, and despite being an All-Star last season, right-hander Bryce Elder is difficult to trust after posting a dreadful 5.11 second-half ERA.
Newly-minted White Sox GM Chris Getz has made it clear there “are no untouchables” on his roster and even made Cease available earlier this offseason before “pulling back” on trade talks, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. However, Heyman believes Chicago is waiting out the Yoshinobu Yamamoto sweepstakes before pursuing a Cease deal further, stating there’s “a good chance” the 27-year-old is on the move.
