With the Major League Baseball All-Star Game firmly in the rearview, all 30 teams must shift their focus to the rapidly approaching July 30 trade deadline.
It's a time of year when some general managers vastly outshine others, and the Atlanta Braves' Alex Anthopoulos has built himself a reputation as a trade deadline savant. In 2021, he retooled Atlanta's entire starting outfield on the fly, resulting in a World Series title.
In 2024, he may have to do it all over again. The Braves outfield has been in shambles all year, highlighted by the season-ending ACL tear suffered by defending National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.
Without Acuña, the Braves have been hurting for corner outfield production. And one potential solution lies in a trade with a division rial.
MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand named his list of the top 10 trade targets to watch on Thursday. One prominent member of his list, the Washington Nationals' Jesse Winker, fits the corner outfield archetype the Braves are looking for.
"The recent promotion of James Wood... has relegated Winker to part-time DH duties, and given his expiring contract and the fact that he’s making $1,500,000 this season, the 30-year-old could be a good buy for a contender seeking outfield help," Feinsand said.
As Feinsand references, the short-term nature of Winker's contract makes a deal much more appealing from the Braves' perspective. Winker has had an up-and-down career, with results varying drastically from year to year.
After an All-Star appearance in 2021 with the Cincinnati Reds, Winker struggled mightily in 2022 with the Seattle Mariners. In 2023, he bottomed out with the Milwaukee Brewers, prompting the Nationals to sign him to a minor league deal.
With Washington, Winker has seemingly resurrected his bat. His .260/.374/.432 slash line is good for a 133 OPS+. But the Nationals knew Wood was coming and Dylan Crews isn't far behind. Winker is worth more to Washington as a trade chip than he would be in the lineup.
The Braves, though, need corner outfield help immediately. This season, their right fielders have a combined .665 OPS, ranking 24th in baseball. Their left fielders are even worse, ranking 28th with a .598 OPS.
Even if Winker is far from a premier defender, he'd be an inexpensive way to get the jolt of offense the Braves need. And if anyone knows how to catch lightning in a bottle from a veteran outfielder, it's Brian Snitker and crew.
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