Scouts were out in force in Rome this weekend, and the Braves’ best minor league talent had plenty of eyes on it.
According to Jesús Cano of The Athletic, clubs that could wind up selling at the trade deadline sent evaluators to High-A Rome for a closer look at Atlanta prospects. Cano wrote, “Scouts have flocked to Braves minor league affiliates,” and added that “High-A Rome, which has the best crop of talent to offer, had scouts from the Padres, Detroit Tigers and Athletics in attendance this weekend.”
That’s not a random gathering. Rome is where the Braves have stacked some of their most intriguing names, starting with Eric Hartman, Cam Caminiti and Tate Southisene, though Southisene has already been promoted to Double-A Columbus.
Those three sit atop the Braves’ system. Moving any of them would take a massive deal, but the lineup in Rome also includes John Gil and Isaiah Drake, a pair of athletic, high-upside prospects who add even more appeal to the group.
The teams watching also line up neatly with Atlanta’s needs. If the Braves decide to go big, Tarik Skubal could fit the bill as the frontline starter they’ve been lacking.
Casey Mize would be a strong fallback option. On the Padres’ side, Mason Miller is one possible name to watch, but Adrian Morejón could also be a major bullpen addition for Atlanta.
Morejón is a dominant left-handed setup man on an expiring contract, which makes him especially interesting for a Braves relief group that could use a boost.
The Athletics don’t have the same kind of star power to dangle, but Tyler Soderstrom could still be a name the Braves like. Left field has been a problem for Atlanta for several seasons, with Jurickson Profar’s two suspensions only adding to the issue.
Soderstrom would help solve that now and down the road. He recently signed a seven-year, $86 million extension with Oakland, keeping him under team control through 2033 at what the report described as a very palatable rate for a player who has grown into a 3-4 WAR contributor.
There’s still plenty to sort through over the next few days. The Padres and Tigers, in particular, are still figuring out whether they’re buying, selling, or trying to do both. But by the weekend, the trade market should start producing real movement.
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Austin Riley has been better since the All-Star break, but the broader picture still points to a club that may need a bat more than it first looked like it would. That is why the Braves are being linked to help at designated hitter or in the outfield, with names like Lane Thomas and Jo Adell among the possibilities, while the infield market could also come into play. The challenge now is figuring out whether Atlanta wants to patch one spot or address a lineup that has too often gone cold all at once. [Read more 🡒]