The Atlanta Braves are one of the best teams in baseball right now as the second half of the season continues.
Atlanta has its eyes set on going after a World Series title this year, and many around the league believe they’ll be a contender. The Braves have a strong collection of players across the roster, and they should be a headache for any team to deal with in the National league.
But after the season ends, the front office will have some decisions to make around the roster. One of which involves shortstop Ozzie Albies, who could become a free agent.
Albies has a club option for $7 million this winter, which the Braves will likely pick up. The infielder has been very productive this season, hitting .261 with 19 home runs and 16 RBIs, while putting up an OPS of .748.
But with Albies being 29-years-old and on the cusp of a larger deal after 2027, the Braves could look to move on from him. In all likelihood, the team will pick up his option, to then trade him for future assets.
If this were to happen, Atlanta would need a replacement for the veteran. And there are already rumors about who could take on the role.
Braves Named Landing Spot for $314M Star
CBS MLB analyst Mike Axisa looked ahead to the upcoming offseason, putting together landing spot for some players expected to be moved. Within, the Braves were named as a possible suitor for star shortstop Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets.
Lindor was a name discussed at the trade deadline this year, but New York never pulled the trigger. It was reported by MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today that the Mets could look to move him over the offseason when more teams could get involved with the bidding.
“They’re going to move everybody,” Nightengale said on Foul Territory. “They would love to move (Francisco) Lindor at some point, but they don’t think they can do it now. Just with the money, it’s so complicated. If Lindor’s moved, it’ll more (likely) be in the offseason, when teams can figure out their payroll and everything else.”
Over the offseason, teams have more flexibility and control over salaries and contract situations, making it easier to get a deal done. The two sides could come together on a deal, sending the five-time All-Star to Atlanta.
Should Braves Go After Francisco Lindor?
While Lindor could be an interesting acquisition for the Braves, the move may not make sense for Atlanta. Lindor has underperformed this season, albeit dealing with injury problems earlier in the year.
For the year, Lindor has hit .229 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs, while posting an OPS of .721 over 59 games played. The veteran shortstop could turn his year around in the second half, which would help the Mets out in trade talks.
But the veteran isn’t worth his large contract, at least right now. Lindor still has five more years left on his current contract, with the Mets owing him $32.4 million each season through his age-37 year.
If the Mets were to trade Lindor, they would certainly need to eat a large portion of the salary. There aren’t many teams around baseball who would be willing to take on Lindor’s deal, so New York would have to retain money.
All in all, the Braves would likely be better off not trading for Lindor, unless the Mets were to take on the majority of his contract. Keeping Albies could make more sense, and he’s produced nicely for this team over the years.
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