Nobody can replace what Ronald Acuña Jr. meant to the Atlanta Braves. But the trade deadline is approaching, and the Braves still need help patching their outfield together.
It isn't as though the Braves haven't tried to find other outfielders. Veteran Adam Duvall was already on the roster, and the Braves signed both Ramón Laureano and Eddie Rosario off waivers. But a more permanent solution is necessary, at least for the rest of the season.
In a year where so many teams are close to the playoff hunt, it will be difficult to find quality bats at the trade deadline, especially at a reasonable price. But one proposed Braves trade would do just that.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report wrote an article proposing eight "realistic trades" for Major League Baseball contenders, the first of which sent Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham to Atlanta for right-handed pitching prospect Seth Keller.
"The fact that Pham... is on a one-year, $3M deal surely appeals to an Atlanta team that is already a projected $33 million above the luxury tax threshold. But Chicago can't expect much in return for the 36-year-old who is playing at exactly replacement level," Kelly said.
Though Pham's offensive stats have fallen off sharply in the last month, it's hard to judge him too harshly for it. After a World Series run with the Arizona Diamondbacks last fall, Pham was signed after Opening Day and has had to adjust to playing for the worst team in baseball.
Pham's real value would be in the postseason, where he has hit .313 with an .846 OPS in his career. He was particularly brilliant with Arizona in 2023, totaling 17 hits and 10 runs scored in just 16 playoff games.
Being traded is an expectation for Pham at this stage of his career. He was sent to the Boston Red Sox from the Cincinnati Reds at the 2022 trade deadline, then joined the Diamondbacks from the New York Mets in 2023.
Atlanta has experience remaking its outfield on the fly--it's how they won the World Series in 2021, the last time Acuña was injured. Acquiring Pham may be the first step towards tracking down another ring.
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