Winter meetings have started with a bang as The Atlanta Braves was wheeling and dealing on the first day! The Braves made a trade with the Seattle Mariners because the mariners wanted to salary dump the pitcher Marco Gonzalez, but to do so the Mariners had to give up highly touted prospect Jarred Kelenic who will most likely be our starting LF in 2024 season. In 2023 Jarred hit .253 with 11 HR’s, 49 RBI’s, 13 steals, and an ops of .746. He was drafted by the Mets in 2018 and traded away to the Mariners. Jarred has a chance to face the team that drafted him just like Travis D’narld torments his old team each year with the Braves!
This move is a low risk and high reward for the Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos as we will have Jarred on his first contract for two more years! The Braves didn’t have to give up any of their top 5 prospects in the Braves farm system and if Jarred fits this Braves team offensively and defensively in left field we can sign him to a cheap long term deal like Alex did with Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Money Mike, Spenser Strider, Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr, and like everyone else who signed for 5-8 years! (The Braves way)! I don’t think the Atlanta Braves are getting Shohei Ohtani, but hopefully Alex will be able to secure Dylan Cease from the whitesox to replace Max fried as he enters his last season looking for an contract extension! Marco Gonzalez will most likely be a mid relief arm or a starter for bullpen games that are needed throughout the very long MLB season!
So what do y’all think of this move by the Atlanta Braves? Does this trade move the hype meter for you for the 2024 season or are you waiting and wishing for Shohei Ohtani under the Christmas tree? Please leave a comment below.