Yankees: 4 Potential Giancarlo Stanton Trade Destinations

Atlanta Braves

Current OF depth:

Marcell Ozuna (29) – Career WAR: 18.5 in 931 G (FA: 2021)

Nick Markakis* (36) – Career WAR: 34.2 in 2,117 G (FA: 2021)

Adam Duvall (31) – Career WAR: 6.7 in 541 G (FA: 2022)

Ender Inciarte (29) – Career WAR: 18.9 in 759 G (FA: 2023)

Ronald Acuña (22) – Career WAR: 9.9 in 267 G (FA: 2029)

*  – Indicates elected not to play the 2020 season.

The Atlanta Braves are very much a team in win-now mode. That’s not to say that the window is closing by any means, but the mixture of young and veteran talent on this team is as good as it’s ever been. If they want to build a dynasty, adding Stanton would surely help.

The outfield had four starting-worthy players entering the year. However, Markakis has elected not to play the 2020 season and will be 37 as he enters free agency this offseason, and Ozuna is signed for only one year. Meanwhile, Inciarte has steadily declined since his 2017 All-Star campaign, and Adam Duvall is mostly serviceable as a platoon-type player.

Stanton could easily slot in as their DH and hit right behind the trio of Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuña and Freddie Freeman. In joining what is arguably a top five offense in the MLB, Stanton could elevate them to new levels.

Financially, it could certainly work. This offseason, the Braves have roughly $70 million coming off the books. Acuña and Albies are already locked up for the long term on team-friendly deals, and many of their young arms are under team control for the next few years. The team can take on Stanton’s contract and still have plenty of room to negotiate an extension for Freeman, who hits the market ahead of the 2022 season.

Why would the Braves do it? Why not? They don’t have any glaring weaknesses, but the NL East is set to be a dog fight with everyone outside of the Marlins eyeing for the division crown. Plus, Stanton is no stranger to that division either.