Braves and White Sox Could Ignite MLB With This Touki Toussaint Trade

The Atlanta Braves made trades for two former Arizona Diamondbacks first-round picks back in 2015. The most notable move brought Dansby Swanson to Atlanta. The other brought in pitcher Touki Toussaint, a former No. 16 overall pick in 2014, as part of a Bronson Arroyo salary dump. Both were, to say the least, hugely beneficial for the Braves.

Swanson has become a regular starter, while Toussaint has failed to find a set role since debuting in 2018. He has made six starts in 31 career appearances and has a career -0.1 WAR. There are questions in the Atlanta starting rotation, but Toussaint still doesn't seem to prominently factor in as a potential replacement for a team replete with top young pitching chips. However, he is still a former top prospect who has shown potential (and a wicked curveball). That makes him an intriguing trade chip for Atlanta.

One team that could take a chance on the right-hander is the Chicago White Sox, who have as many offensive prospects as you can pack into one system, but still lack pitching. They're the anti-Braves. The team could give Toussaint a fresh start in the American League, and he could get a new set of coaches to help develop him into a starting pitcher.

In exchange, the White Sox could offer up a package featuring catcher Zack Collins and reliever Zack Burdi. Collins is the No. 10 overall prospect in the White Sox system and is stuck behind Yasmani Grandal on the depth chart. He could head to Atlanta as the catcher of the future behind Travis d'Arnaud. Collins made his MLB debut in 2019 and appeared in 27 games, finishing with three home runs and 12 RBI.

Burdi is the No. 17 prospect in Chicago and was a 2016 first-round pick. He then had Tommy John surgery and also suffered a knee injury, making 2018 and 2019 all about getting back to full strength. He only threw 22.2 innings last year, but remains a top bullpen prospect at the age of 25. The benefit of the White Sox moving him for Toussaint is to get a younger prospect without the extensive injury history who also has experience in the 'pen. Toussaint isn't naturally a reliever, but Burdi wouldn't have to convert.

Both sides would benefit from such a trade. The Braves would get two players to fill holes in the organizational depth chart, and the White Sox would get a 23-year-old pitcher with major league experience.