​The Atlanta Braves are beginning to regain their rhythm after a disappointing July that allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to close the gap in the NL East standings. Atlanta also gained momentum by winning its recent series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the MLB trade deadline only a few weeks away, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has already signaled that the team intends to be active on the market. “I fully expect and hope that we will be engaged in trades come July. I’m not trying to overly excite anybody or promise anything. But if we’re playing the way we are right now, we’re going to be in there,” Anthopoulos said.
While adding pitching remains a top priority, the Braves could also benefit from adding another impact bat for the outfield. Production from the corner outfield spots has been inconsistent this season. “The Atlanta Braves’ lineup isn’t the long, strong force of nature fans watched and loved in 2023. The left side of the infield’s production, especially Austin Riley’s, would fit in a thimble, and aside from Mauricio Dubón, corner outfielders aren’t much better. No help is coming at short or third, so outfield bats are a priority,” wrote Fred Owens of HTHB.
If Atlanta pursues an outfielder, one intriguing option is Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton. “The report on Buxton remains similar to when he went No. 2 in the 2012 draft: elite runner and defender with loud bat speed. The difference is that his high school bat speed turned into regular in-game power by his mid-20s, and now, in his early 30s, he’s hitting some of the high-end projections for 30-plus homer potential more than a decade later. Essentially everything you dreamed of with Buxton has come true, with injuries and durability being the only negatives,” noted ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan.
Buxton would fit the profile of the type of player Anthopoulos has targeted before, particularly players with Georgia ties. Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, and Michael Harris II are all examples of hometown talent the Braves have welcomed into the organization. Buxton is currently under a $100 million contract with the Twins. While injuries have been the primary concern throughout his career, the Braves could manage his workload while adding another dynamic bat and elite defender to the lineup. If a deal were completed, Buxton could slide into left field, a move he would likely be willing to make. The main hurdle, however, would be Buxton’s willingness to waive his no-trade clause.