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This Braves-Rockies Trade for Nolan Arenado Could Actually Work

By Sean Facey

The Braves have all of the talent they need to pry Nolan Arenado away from the Colorado Rockies.
The Braves have all of the talent they need to pry Nolan Arenado away from the Colorado Rockies. / Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

With 2019 comeback star Josh Donaldson possibly departing in free agency, the Atlanta Braves could soon find themselves in desperate need of a new starting third baseman and an infusion of power in the heart of their lineup. Luckily for them, this offseason's trade market is flush with teams looking to offload top-caliber players at the hot corner.

In particular, the Colorado Rockies have made it clear that they're not against dealing Nolan Arenado for the right price, and a package built around cherished pitching prospect Ian Anderson could get a conversation going. Let's throw in fellow top-10 pitching prospect Bryse Wilson and veteran outielder Ender Inciarte in there, too.

Inciarte would make for a proper big-league piece to headline the package heading to Colorado. He's a three-time Gold Glover in the outfield and an able base-stealer, and is under contract through 2021 with a club option for 2022.

His career .728 OPS doesn't leap off the page, but it will almost certainly get a bit of a boost from playing a new, hitter-friendly environment at Coors Field.

Anderson and Wilson would be the young pitching prospects that the Rockies are in dire need of. The 21-year-old Anderson, Atlanta's No. 3-ranked prospect, posted an impressive 3.38 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A last year while striking out 175 batters in just 135 2/3 innings of work.

Wilson, 22, provides another arm with high upside. Though he has struggled in his brief time in the majors, posting a 7.00 ERA in 27 career innings, there's still plenty to like about the Braves' No. 6 prospect. He has a fastball that touches 98 mph, and he has a serviceable slider and changeup to boot.

The two young arms combined with Inciarte would give the Rockies plenty to think about. However, if they still demanded more for their star third baseman -- and they every well might -- then the Braves could consider adding their No. 9 overall prospect in infielder Braden Shewmake.

It would take a lot to get Arenado, especially considering he's under contract through 2025, but it would be well worth it for this Braves team if they're looking to make it back to October baseball.