This offseason, the Braves need to give themselves a serious examination. Despite having won 205 games in the previous two seasons, they have lost two NLDS series to the Philadelphia Phillies, and neither of those series was particularly close. It would be naive to assume that this is the result of baseball’s unpredictability and small sample size alone. The Braves need to make changes before they inevitably face each other again in October because the Phillies currently possess something that the Braves lack and that has contributed to more postseason success in recent years.
It’s official that I don’t think the Braves should overreact. Although some disagree, it would not be prudent to make significant changes to the team’s elite core. This very topic was recently discussed by Jeff Schultz, who feels that Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies, two elite players, should at least be brought up in trade talks.
It was hard for me to even type such a ridiculous sentence, but I cannot support trading Ozzie Albies; I’m on board with moving Orlando Arcia in the right deal.
Moving Albies would only make sense insofar as Vaughn Grissom could take his place at second base and fetch a hefty haul in exchange. On what is perhaps the best contract in baseball, the Braves would have to give up one of the best second basemen. Apart from the fact that they would need to be paid a king’s ransom to even entertain the idea, Albies’ connection to Ronald Acuña Jr. is the main reason I oppose trading him.
Baseball is a business, and like any business, relationships can get strained. However, a large portion of business involves keeping the organization’s executives well-fed and content. Since Albies isn’t a problem here, it would be terrible business to strain the relationship between Ronald Acuña Jr. and his best friend, who happens to be the best position player in the league. After what was arguably his best season to date, the three-time All-Star recently concluded his career.
The Braves should be concentrating on strengthening the bonds within the clubhouse rather than risking them by trading the best friend of the team’s most valuable player. It shouldn’t even be possible to trade Albies. Michael Harris II is comparable in this regard.
