The Atlanta Braves are stocked up on pitching talent in their top-30 prospects list from 2024. At this point, it would be a shock if nobody is moved over the offseason to aid the Braves’ quest to make important upgrades in the lineup and in the starting rotation.
While teams have been reported to be looking into Braves pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep (No. 3 prospect), the Braves have made it clear he’s not going anywhere. Caminiti (No. 1 prospect) was also deemed unlikely to be moved.
Braves writer for MLB.com Mark Bowman wrote that Smith-Shawver is a solid candidate to be traded since the other top three prospects are near untouchable this offseason.
“With Caminiti and Waldrep in the unlikely-to-be-moved category, AJ Smith-Shawver (Braves’ No. 2 and MLB No. 97) might be the pitching prospect who is most attractive to other teams,” Bowman wrote.
Fellow MLB.com writer Mark Feinsand concurred with Bowman in his piece on potential trade candidates for each team, in which he named the 22-year-old righty as the Braves’ piece.
He went one step further and showed why Smith-Shawver could be the trade piece over prospect catcher Drake Baldwin, who was named the Braves top prospect by Baseball America.
“Many teams have unsuccessfully tried to land the club’s No. 3 prospect RHP Hurston Waldrep, who might fall into the untouchable category,” Feinsand wrote. “No. 5 prospect C Drake Baldwin is Atlanta’s second-most-attractive trade piece, but following Travis d’Arnaud’s departure, the Braves might be hesitant to reduce depth at this premium position. But you have to give to get, so Smith-Shawver (the Braves No. 2 prospect and No. 97 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100) could be used as a trade chip, as Atlanta needs an outfielder, another veteran starter and a high-leverage reliever.”
