It has been an unusually quiet offseason for the Atlanta Braves, particularly on the trade front.
After pulling off blockbuster acquisitions prior to the 2023 and 2024 seasons (Sean Murphy and Chris Sale), the Braves laid low this time around. It’s a reasonable strategy, given that they have three All-Stars returning from season-ending injuries last year.
However, at some point this season, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos will surely want to get back in the mix. And there’s only one position that’s begging to be upgraded on Atlanta’s current roster.
Though shortstop Orlando Arcia made the All-Star team in 2023, he’s been one of the worst hitters in Major League Baseball for the past 200-plus games. It’s the only clear deficiency in an otherwise stacked lineup, and continued struggles from Arcia would elicit complaints from the fan base.
That prompted Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer to name the Braves as an early 2025 trade fit for Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, a two-time All-Star and American League hits leader entering the final year of his $33 million contract extension.
“(Bichette’s) actual trade value will hinge on how well he bounces back from a lost 2024 season. He’ll need to avoid injuries and get back to the player he was between 2021 and 2023, when he was a .300 hitter with 20-homer power,” Rymer wrote.
“Potential Landing Spots: Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers.”
Bichette, who turns 27 in March, is coming off a shockingly bad year, which was shortened to 82 games thanks to calf and finger injuries. He had a .598 OPS, which was a full 200 points lower than his excellent career average.
The Braves seem to always get the best possible production from the players they trade for, and Bichette has shown star qualities in the past. That makes this an ideal fit for both sides if Toronto winds up selling at the trade deadline.
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