The Atlanta Braves did business with the Oakland Athletics on Monday, trading for first baseman Matt Olson.
Olson had been one of the Braves’ targets for a while now, before the lockout.
They finally completed a deal, sending four prospects to Oakland to get their man.
It’s hard to evaluate a trade in which so many prospects are involved, but it’s fair to say that the A’s were happy to net four very good prospects for their rebuild.
The Braves did get an All-Star, sure, but they are mortgaging their future instead of giving a fan favorite who is still a force at the plate, Freddie Freeman, the free agent deal he wanted.
Why do we say the Braves are mortgaging their future?
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale can help us explain.
“Atlanta, who never wanted to go to a sixth year for Freddie Freeman in contract talks, give up their top two prospects and four of their top 14 prospects in deal for #Athletics 1B Matt Olson,” he tweeted.
Atlanta, who never wanted to go to a sixth year for Freddie Freeman in contract talks, give up their top two prospects and four of their top 14 prospects in deal for #Athletics 1B Matt Olson.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 14, 2022
Four Very Good Prospects
Outfielder Cristian Pache and catcher Shea Langeliers were widely considered the top two Braves’ prospects.
Both of them are considered excellent defenders at their position, with promising bats.
In addition, Atlanta also sent two top-15 organizational prospects in pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes.
We can all agree that Olson is a star: he hit 39 homers last year with 111 RBI and good defense at first base.
He is also under team control for two more seasons, 2022 and 2023.
But the Braves paid a lot to get him.
In the end, if Olson performs to the best of his abilities, it won’t matter for Atlanta.
But it was a steep price prospects-wise.
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