Report: Scouts from three teams watching Braves prospects ahead of deadline

According to Jesús Cano of The Athletic, there were several scouts from teams that could be looking to sell at this year’s trade deadline in Rome this weekend for a closer look at some of the Braves’ most talented prospects.

“Scouts have flocked to Braves minor league affiliates,” Cano writes. “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.”

Rome features most of the Braves’ top prospects in the organization — headlined by Eric Hartman, Cam Caminiti, and Tate Southisene (though Southisene has just been promoted to Double-A Columbus). Those are the top three prospects in the Braves system. It would take a blockbuster deal for any of them to be included, but the Emperors’ lineup also includes John Gil and Isaiah Drake — two extremely talented and athletic prospects oozing with upside.

Playing a little game of connect the dots, the Padres, Tigers, and Athletics all have something they can offer when it comes to the Braves’ biggest needs.

Tarik Skubal could be the frontline starter the Braves have been missing if they wanted to swing big, but Casey Mize wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize. The Padres could potentially be looking to move Mason Miller or other core pieces, but even someone like Adrian Morejón — a dominant left-handed setup man on an expiring contract — could really boost the Braves bullpen.

Oakland doesn’t have nearly as many high-profile pieces to trade, but Tyler Soderstrom could be high up on Atlanta’s radar. Left field has been a weak spot for the team over the last several seasons, in large part because of the two suspensions to Jurickson Profar. The addition of Soderstrom could put an end to that now and in the future. He recently signed a seven-year, $86 million extension with the Athletics, which keeps him under team control through 2033 at a very palatable rate for someone who’s become a 3-4 WAR player.

A lot still needs to be sorted out over the next several days. Teams like the Padres and Tigers aren’t quite sure whether they’re buying or selling — or both. But come the weekend, we should start seeing some significant trades come to fruition.

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(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire)