Boston Red Sox Freddie Freeman Jim Johnson
Jul 18, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) doubles against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
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The Atlanta Braves are seven games under .500, 14 games out of the NL East race, and 10.5 out of the Wild Card with five teams ahead of them. Washington looks poised to keep their motor running for the next few years, and the Marlins seem to be headed in the right direction. Neither bodes well for the Braves. The Braves are also the oldest team in MLB, with an average age of 30.4 years, and they don’t have anything resembling a first baseman among their top prospects. Meanwhile, they’ll owe Freddie Freeman $86 million dollars over the next four years.

The Braves are also the oldest team in MLB, with an average age of 30.4 years, and they don’t have anything resembling a first baseman among their top prospects. Meanwhile, they’ll owe Freddie Freeman $86 million dollars over the next four years.

The Red Sox are looking for offensive consistency and some pop, as well as back end bullpen help. So, could Freeman and Braves closer Jim Johnson (34 years old) be headed to Fenway?

Sox fans would like to see it, and it would seem to address all the Sox’s needs. Freeman has been a consistent power and average hitter and would slide nicely into the heart of the Red Sox order. Johnson would look good joining Matt Barnes, Brandon Workman, and (when they return from DL) Joe Kelly and Carson Smith setting up for Craig Kimbrel.

Mitch Moreland, along with a package of prospects including 1B Sam Travis, LHP Brian Johnson, and either IF Tzu-Wei Lin or SS CJ Chatham could be just what the doctor ordered for Atlanta. Moreland is on a one year deal, and solid hitter Travis seems close to ready for primetime.

Lin (impressive in a brief stay with the big club earlier this year) or Chatham at SS could let Johan Camargo play 2B when the aging Brandon Phillips’ (36 years old) contract is up at the end of the year. Lin would seem more likely, as he has an above average glove at SS, 2B and 3B. So if Dansby Swanson should get straightened out, he could slide to third. Brian Johnson could be third in the Braves’ rotation immediately, rather than bouncing between Pawtucket and Boston as he has.

Collectively, they would represent potential roster material for 2018 that would reduce payroll, reduce age, and expedite the rebuild for Atlanta. It might take more from the Sox, but it does not seem far fetched for a deal like this to go down.

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