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The Atlanta Braves are one of the more disappointing teams of the 2024 season, though not entirely through their own fault.
Sure, the offense is a shell of the historic unit that fueled the team to the top seed in the National League last season, but a rash of injuries has prevented the team from realizing its fullest potential.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the most obvious missing piece following a torn left ACL that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season, but he is not the only one. Ozzie Albies suffered a fractured left wrist that landed him on the injured list for at least eight weeks back on July 21.
More damning than those two key pieces suffering significant injuries are the pitchers who have either missed significant time or will miss the rest of the season. Max Fried went on the IL the same day Albies did with left arm neuritis. Ace Spencer Strider is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April.
That one-two punch damaged the Braves’ chances of winning a World Series this season and the team knows it. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported that the team is considering a deal for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
Rob Friedman @PitchingNinja
Garrett Crochet – Target Practice 🎯 pic.twitter.com/7EgqqcyU8c
Crochet is understandably one of the most coveted players at the deadline, with a modest 3.23 ERA but the second-most strikeouts in the majors with 160. He has been an absolute flame thrower for a bad White Sox team and with a salary of just $800,000, he is an affordable addition for Atlanta.
At least for now.
Crochet made it clear that he wants to remain a starter despite a skillset that makes him an excellent reliever and more importantly, he wants a contract extension from whichever team signs him.
How that affects any team’s desire to make a trade for him, especially given his elbow and shoulder injury history, remains to be seen but he has nearly doubled the number of innings he has ever pitched before, combined, and has certainly been good enough to warrant loyalty from whichever club picks him up.
Considering the need the Braves have if they want to go on a run and make the most out of what has been an up-and-down season at best, it would behoove them to get on the phone with the White Sox and get a deal done before another contender beats them to it.
Crochet would provide the spark on the mound the team needs and allow their bats to get hot again. He is the key to any midseason renaissance the team may undergo.
Without some pitching help acquired at the deadline, the Braves will likely have to play for next season because, playoffs or not, what they are currently putting on the field is not enough to win the most coveted prize in professional baseball.
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