The Atlanta Braves are still aiming to be sellers in the MLB offseason as things have begun to cool down with many of the big names having found new homes. However, the Braves are still in talks with different teams about trade deals as interest remains high in several players on the roster. One player that the team continues to receive calls on is Freddie Freeman and they continue to get denied.
According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves had discussions regarding a trade of Freeman, but things went nowhere as general manager John Coppolella denied the first baseman would player anywhere other than Atlanta in 2016. It is unclear what the Astros were willing to offer up in the trade, but the Braves have continued to stand tall on the idea that Freeman would be heading elsewhere.
"We have been contacted by more teams with interest in Inciarte than there were with Shelby Miller," Coppolella said, via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. "Similar to Miller, we aren't looking to move Inciarte, but we will listen on any player not named Freddie Freeman and see if a club offers us something compelling that we feel makes us better."
The Braves are still looking to capitalize on a few more trades as Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher are the intended targets. According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Braves are trying very hard to trade both Bourn and Swisher as the outfielders market continues to develop. Right now, several big names remain unsigned as teams appear unwilling to spend money on players like Justin Upton or Alex Gordon. The Braves could try and take advantage of that by making Bourn and Swisher available.
Bowman reports the Braves are willing to trade either player even if it means they eat a significant portion of their salaries. Swisher is owed $15 million while Bourn is owed $14 million. Neither player has been productive in years and the Braves no longer deem them worth keeping on the roster moving forward. The Braves could simply release at one of them and wipe their hands of a mistake, but getting a trade is the ideal move. With teams like the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets and Washington Nationals eyeing outfielders on the open market, a trade could be an easy move rather than overpaying.
The Braves have been able to swing some favorable trade deals this offseason. Getting a good return for Swisher or Bourn will be tough, but there could be some interest when names start to get taken off the market.
