Braves-Astros trade pitch sends $115M Silver Slugger to Atlanta to build MLB's scariest lineup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves offense is off to a dominant start this season and is beginning to show flashes of the special 2023 campaign. Players like Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, and Ozzie Albies have become untouchable at this stage of the season.
Atlanta is not only hitting for power, but also for average. Consistency at the plate is something every contender strives for, and the Braves currently lead all of baseball with a .270 team batting average.
Still, Atlanta could easily pursue another power bat if the organization truly wants to solidify its lineup as the best in Major League Baseball. A trade for Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros would be a nightmare scenario for the rest of the league.
“The Atlanta Braves are the best team in baseball. The Braves are 26-12. Right now, Dominic Smith is the clubs designated hitter and has been excellent so far this season. Smith is slashing .324/.351/.521 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 28 games played. He has been great. But the Braves are legit contenders. If Houston is open to a deal, the Braves should actually be first in line,” SI’s Patrick McAvoy wrote.
Alvarez is by no means a lock to be traded by Houston, but if the Astros continue to struggle, they could receive a massive return for one of the game’s premier hitters.
“Right now, trading Alvarez isn’t something the Astros are actively trying to do. But if the season continues to go sideways, he would instantly become one of the most valuable players on the trade market. He’s still in his prime at 28 years old, still producing, and still under control for multiple seasons,” Astros Round Table’s Sydney Cruse wrote.
Alvarez would be a massive addition for Atlanta, especially if Sean Murphy continues to battle health concerns. The current plan is for Baldwin to serve as the designated hitter on days he is not catching, but without Murphy consistently healthy, those opportunities could become limited.
Alvarez is currently on a $115 million contract that runs through 2028, making him an appealing long-term addition. The left-handed slugger is a World Series champion and multiple-time All-Star, and Atlanta making an aggressive move for him would make plenty of sense.
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