The Atlanta Braves are still looking for outfield help and they have been pretty quiet following a weekend highlighted by the Los Angeles Dodgers signings. There are plenty of guys out there, but the Chicago White Sox's Alejandro de Aza is one the Braves should really take consider acquiring in a trade.
Just for the record, the White Sox want to unload the left-handed hitting outfielder, so say the rumors. He was given an opportunity to start in Chicago and made his presence felt with both speed and defense. He committed just three errors on 333 chances in the outfield.
De Aza can play all fields, but would mainly be fixed in left field as Martin Prado is expected to be the everyday third baseman replacing the legend, Chipper Jones.
With the White Sox, de Aza batted .281 with nine home runs and 50 RBI. He had the knack for getting on base posting a .349 OBP and proved speedy swiping 26 bases and legging out six triples in 2012.
The Braves don't have any position players to offer on a deal and as always, their pitching will likely be the first thing to be traded. De Aza is not expensive as he is under club control until 2016 and will receive arbitration in 2013. His 2012 salary was $495K.
They could use some bullpen help out in Chicago and the Braves are carrying an excess of relievers. A prospect would be too much to give up on a deal for De Aza. Randall Delgado looks to be the odd man out in the Braves' pitching rotation, but once again, the Braves might be giving up too much with that move.
A possible solution for the Braves' left field problems would be keeping Prado out there while Juan Francisco takes over the third base duties, but Prado is a contact hitter and has done a phenomenal job at the two hole. He makes contact, can hit for average and possesses some pop.
Frank Wren said he doesn't think the Braves will acquire an outfielder on the free agent market, so he will eventually decide whether to keep the players he has now or possibly dig into their deep farm system and ship out some future talent to help the team win now.
