The trade deadline is unfolding ideally for the World Series defense

The MLB trade deadline is going exactly as the Atlanta Braves could have dreamed, with that one team rumored to be sellers.

Before the MLB trade deadline, two giant dominoes fell. The first was outfielder Andrew Benintendi, who was traded to the New York Yankees. Then, perhaps the biggest step so far, The Seattle Mariners acquire starting pitcher Luis Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds in a deal that sent them three of their top five prospects. Now that the deadline is August 2nd, the teams have made their decisions on whether to be buyers or sellers.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the San Francisco Giants are “listening to their veterans now.” The two names the MLB insider points out are starting pitcher Carlos Rodon and outfielder Joc Pederson.

The latter is good news for the Atlanta Braveswho have a chance to bring back a trade deadline acquisition from a year ago that helped them win a World Series.

Braves have a chance to bring Joc Pederson back

It just so happens that Atlanta needs an outfielder. Adam Duvall is done for the season after his wrist surgery.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand noted earlier in the day that the team was indeed looking for an outfielder as of deadline, and listed Pederson as a possible option. But at the time of the tweet, Feinsand said the Giants had not decided to sell. A lot can change in a few hours.

Pederson was brought in from the Braves last season after Ronald Acuna Jr. was ruled out of the 2021 campaign after tearing his cruciate ligament. In his time with Atlanta, Pederson has .249/.325/.428 streaks while recording 7 homers, 22 RBI and 43 hits in 64 regular-season games. In the postseason, Pederson had a .205 batting average, a .680 OPS, 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 15 games.

In 87 games that year with the Giants, Pederson recorded .242/.319/.492 slashes, 17 home runs, 43 RBI and 61 hits. Pederson was named a starter in the MLB All-Star Game.

While Pederson could be available, it will be interesting to see if the Braves actually attempt to bring him back for their World Series title defense.