What will the Atlanta Braves do this summer at the trade deadline?
It's unclear, but it does seem like a near certainty that the club will be buyers. Atlanta has the tools needed to make a deep playoff run this season despite multiple high-impact injuries.
All the Braves have to do is add a little depth around the trade deadline and they will be in business. There will be multiple players available who could help and one player who was floated as a trade candidate is Oakland Athletics All-Star Brent Rooker by The Athletic's Jim Bowden and David O'Brien.
"Braves get: (Outfielder/Designated Hitter) Brent Rooker (and) A's get: (Right-handed pitcher) Cade Kuehler, (Outfielder) Luis Guanipa, (Infielder) E.J. Exposito," Bowden and O'Brien said. "The Braves would add another big bat to their order in Rooker who had 30 homers, a .488 slugging percentage, and a 128 OPS+ in 2023, and has been even better this season with 14 homers, .506 slugging, and a 145 OPS+ through Wednesday albeit with an American League-leading 97 strikeouts."
Landing Rooker could be a perfect option for the Braves. They need help in the outfield and someone to help fill in Ronald Acuña Jr.'s shoes in the middle of the lineup. Rooker could do both. He was an All-Star last year and is looking like a likely option once again.
If the Braves want to add this summer, they should give the Athletics a call as fast as possible to see what it would cost to get Rooker.
More MLB: Braves linked to one of the top available outfielders in deadline deal by insider