Braves get busy during trade deadline pick up four players

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves have made two moves on the last day of the trading deadline to help bolster their injury ravaged outfield and their struggling bullpen.

A day after letting centerfielder Ender Inciarte go and two weeks after picking up rightfielder Joc Pederson, the Braves have acquired Minnesota outfielder Eddie Rosario and former Brave Adam Duvall who was playing in Miami this season.

To get Rosario, the Braves sent pinch hitter/infielder Pablo Sandoval to Cleveland. The Braves also will get some cash considerations in the deal.

Rosario was someone the Braves had considered signing to a deal before the season until he signed a one-year deal with the Indians.

Yes, this does likely mean the end of the “Panda Hugs” after a Braves home run.

The lefty hitting Rosario has played all three outfield positions during his six-year career and is currently on the injured list. In Rosario’s last full season with Minnesota, he hit 32 home runs. When healthy, he will add to an already powerful Braves lineup.

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Duvall returns to Atlanta after signing a free-agent deal with the Marlins. The veteran outfielder played for the Braves from 2018 through the 2020 season. The Braves sent catcher Alex Jackson to Miami in return for Duvall who will likely assume a prominent role in the outfield.

Already this season he’s hit 22 home runs with 68 RBI’s.

Duvall and Rosario strengthen a Braves outfield that has featured journeymen Abraham Almonte, Guillermo Heredia and Orlando Arcia manning the outfield over the past several weeks.

The Braves lost star right fielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. to a knee injury July 10, he’s since had surgery and is out for the season.

The Braves also lost left fielder Marcell Ozuna in May after he first dislocated a couple of fingers sliding into a base and then was arrested on domestic battery charges.

There’s been no word if or when Ozuna will return to playing baseball.

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Late in the afternoon, the Braves made two trades, getting them in just before the 4 p.m. deadline.

First they made a trade with the Kansas City Royals and added yet another outfielder, Jorge Soler. Soler hit 48 home runs just two seasons ago, this year he’s hit 13. The Braves gave up minor league pitcher Kasey Kalich to pick up Soler for the stretch run.

Just minutes later, the team announced they added reliever Richard Rodriguez from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rodriguez has been the Pirates closer, racking up 13 saves so far in 2021.

To get Rodriguez, Atlanta gave up pitcher Bryse Wilson who’s had an up and down career with Atlanta so far and prospect Ricky DeVito.

The 6-3 right-handed Rodriguez should help shore up a Braves bullpen that has been among the bottom five in baseball during the 2021 season.

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As of today’s trade deadline, the Braves are 50-51 on the season and are in 3rd place in the National League East. They are a half-game behind the Philadelphia Phillies and four games behind the first place New York Mets.

Atlanta starts a three game series with the Central Division leading Milwaukee Brewers beginning Friday at 7:20 p.m.

Atlanta Braves honor the great Hank Aaron as home opener gets underway at Truist Park As the Atlanta Braves’ home opener gets underway, the team and Truist Park paid tribute to one of the team’s most legendary players -- Hank Aaron.

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