The Atlanta Braves are facing an unexpected issue.
Injuries to star outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II have left the lineup shorthanded. However, another 2023 All-Star, Orlando Arcia, hasn’t been sidelined by injury—he’s just been struggling significantly at the plate.
With Arcia’s league-worst .245 on-base percentage, the Braves may be exploring the trade market for an offensive upgrade at shortstop. One MLB insider believes acquiring a player from a division rival could be the solution.
In a Wednesday mailbag column, Jim Bowden of The Athletic suggested that the Miami Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. could be traded to Atlanta.
“I do like Chisholm’s fit with the Braves and think their clubhouse culture would do him wonders,” Bowden said.
Chisholm, 26, would indeed be an offensive upgrade for Atlanta if he remains healthy. Although he’s never played more than 124 games in a season, Chisholm averages 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases per 162 games in his five-year career.
However, Chisholm hasn’t played shortstop since 2021. So how would acquiring him solve Atlanta’s problem?
Bowden suggests moving someone to shortstop who has never played there in his entire big-league career: Ozzie Albies.
“I would have no problem moving Ozzie Albies over to shortstop because he’s a plus defender there too,” Bowden said.
Albies was considered an excellent defender at shortstop in the minor leagues, and the reason he never played there in the majors was mainly due to Dansby Swanson’s presence. While it’s a novel solution, it could work.
Is it far-fetched to think Albies or Chisholm could handle shortstop duties? The offensive upgrade might justify the experiment. Both have an OPS in the .700s, while Arcia’s is notably low.
Shifting to shortstop late in a career is becoming more common. The Boston Red Sox tried it with Kiké Hernández in 2023, with little success. The Los Angeles Dodgers, however, found success with Mookie Betts in 2024 because, well, he’s Mookie Betts.
Ultimately, it depends on Alex Anthopoulos’ willingness to think outside the box. The Braves have had success this season turning Reynaldo López into a full-time starting pitcher, and this move requires a similar leap of faith.
