The 3 Biggest Trade Deadline Mistakes

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 22: Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ #8 in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on July 22, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves made a good move at the end of the trading period, but they still made some mistakes.

Heading into the closing minutes of the 2022 MLB trade deadline, the Atlanta Braves looked like they didn’t have a good trading deadline. All they did was trade for Nationals infielder Ehire Adrianza, Tigers outfielder Robbie Grossman, and trade for Astros starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi. Both had underperforming seasons, but the Braves were able to trade helper Will Smith (who was also struggling) to Houston for Odorizzi.

Minutes before the deadline, they traded for Angel’s seamstress, Raisel Iglesias. He’s been a good helper for the last seven seasons in the majors and is suspended for the next three seasons after this year. They had to trade helper Jesse Chavez and potential Tucker Davidson back to the Angels in return.

It wasn’t an A+ or even an A deal, but it was a decent deal.

Indeed, their best deal was to extend their MVP nominee, third baseman Austin Riley, to a 10-year contract.

However, the Braves made three big mistakes at the close.

The Braves didn’t get another outfield/DH slugger

The Braves got Robbie Grossman, but he’s had a terrible season on the plate. Grossman hit .205/.313/.282 with an OPS+ of 73 in 83 games. He’s been a senior guy on base in the past, having had a .354 OBP from 2017-2021, but those numbers this year are a little troubling.

Adam Duvall is done for the year, Eddie Rosario has struggled and Marcell Ozuna has been terrible in the outfield and as a DH. He has a big contract. That’s about the only reason he’s still playing.

Ideally, Rosario and Grossman would be on the bench, Ozuna would be either left fielder or DH, and the Braves would have traded for someone else to address the other position.

That could have been for Cubs all-star outfielder Ian Happ, who wasn’t traded and won’t be a free agent until the next offseason, Trey Mancini (who was traded to Houston), David Peralta (who was traded to the Rays), or other.