The Atlanta Braves could also be interested in Trevor Story in center field
The Atlanta Braves are one of the most interesting teams in baseball right now. They are, seemingly, going to be buyers at the trade deadline as they have already traded for outfielder Joc Pederson from the Chicago Cubs. However, the Braves are two games under .500 at 47-49 entering Saturday. They are only five games back in the NL East (the New York Mets are in first place at 51-43).
The Braves have a shortstop for the foreseeable future in Dansby Swanson but he has not been good on offense this year (.237/.293/.448) so Story could, temporarily take over for him there (which is unlikely). But the Braves outfield hasn’t been great, particularly since Ronald Acuna, Jr. tore his ACL just before the All-Star Game. That’s part of the reason why Pederson was acquired.
But center field is still an issue for the Braves. Ender Inciarte had been known as a good defensive but poor offensive player and he has spent a lot of the season on the IL. The Braves DFA’d him on Saturday so the reigns will, at least for now, stay with Guillermo Heredia. Heredia hasn’t been great either, as he is hitting .245 with a .727 OPS on the season. More alarmingly, in the month of June (entering Saturday), he has hit .159 with a .424 OPS.
Overall, the Braves have a wRC+ of 99 on the season, which is 15th in baseball but since Acuna, Jr. injury, they have a wRC+ of 93, which is 21st in baseball. Their center fielders have a wRC+ on the season at 70, which is second-worst in baseball to the next team.