This Braves Trade Package for Mookie Betts Could Actually Work
By Parker White
The days of the Atlanta Braves rebuilding and stockpiling prospects is over. It's time to take steps towards winning the whole thing, and there's a superstar on the market who could do just that.
Even with the Braves bringing Nick Markakis back, their outfield could use another upgrade to go alongside Ronald Acuña Jr. Who better to add than former AL MVP Mookie Betts?
Could and should the #Braves consider a trade for Mookie Betts? #RedSox @BoSoxInjection https://t.co/qb5gkbO9fW
— TomahawkTake (@TomahawkTakeFS) October 24, 2019
It's not a done deal that the Boston Red Sox are going to trade Betts, who will enter the free agent market following the 2020 season, but there's a belief that "at least one" of Betts, Francisco Lindor or Kris Bryant is going to be moved this offseason.
The Braves should be interested in all three of them, especially with the farm system and young pieces they possess, but Betts is a perfect fit and should be highly targeted. So, what would a trade package from Atlanta look like?
The top two prospects in Atlanta's farm system, Cristian Pache and Drew Waters, are outfielders who have already reached Triple-A. They won't be big league ready at the start of 2020, but both are top-25 prospects according to MLB.com, and one of them has to headline this deal.
It's *easy* to project Cristian Pache as a Gold Glove center fielder who should become one of the better defenders in baseball as soon as he reaches the majors.
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) November 5, 2019
Fresh scouting report, plus the Braves Top 10: https://t.co/4QkhblJNZH pic.twitter.com/xxIyZx0cFM
Between the two, Pache is a much better defender but Waters has higher upside with the bat. Waters is an above-average defender to go along with his offense, so if you are the Braves, Pache is the guy you'd part with to get Betts.
Boston will be expecting more in the deal, which is why the Braves should go to their system strength and add a couple highly-touted pitching prospects, Bryse Wilson and Kyle Muller.
Bryse Wilson's final six starts for Gwinnett: 40 IP, 31 H, 37 K, 7 BB, 0.90 ERA, .214 BA, .524 OPS, 24.2 K%, 4.6 BB%. He could spend this month auditioning for the multi-inning relief role in the postseason.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 4, 2019
Wilson made six appearances (four starts) for the big league team last year, so he could immediately step into Boston's rotation, which as of right now is down Rick Porcello, who is a free agent.
Muller may not be a top-100 prospect, but in 22 starts at Double-A, he posted a 3.14 ERA and had 120 strikeouts over 111.2 innings. He has power stuff from the left side, making him an attractive future starter, but at the very least he could be a high-end option in the back-end of the bullpen.
Not only do the Braves get a difference-maker to help them try and capture their first World Series since 1995, but the Red Sox can begin to build for the future with some well-regarded young pieces. Everybody wins.