Did the Braves win the Matt Olson trade? Absolutely, and it's not even close.
Matt Olson hit a grand slam on Friday night. For any other player, that would be a monumental achievement. It's certainly nice, but it's also what we've come to expect from Olson this season.
More than midway through the 2023 season, Olson has more home runs than the Braves have losses. Really, really think about that. The Atlanta first baseman is often overshadowed in an elite lineup. He's one of the quieter personalities in baseball.
Ronald Acuña, who is the favorite to win NL MVP right now, is on the same team. It's easy to forget that just two offseasons ago, Alex Anthopoulos scrambled to acquire Olson knowing that Freddie Freeman was on his way elsewhere.
At the time, the trade looked like a risk for Atlanta, considering it included a number of their top prospects:
Where are they now? Braves-Athletics Matt Olson trade
Alright, let's go down the list here, shall we?
- Cristian Pache was formerly the Braves top prospect. Since, he has flamed out with the Athletics and is now in the mix for a Phillies outfield spot when healthy thanks to his speed and defensive ability in center.
- Ryan Cusick remains in the A's system, and is currently their 18th-ranked prospect in Double-A. The jury is still out on him as a relief prospect.
- Joey Estes is in a similar situation, as he is Oakland's 19th-ranked prospect and pitching in Double-A.
- Shea Langeliers is Oakland's starting catcher, which sounds nice in theory. He's struggled at the plate, however, and his pitch framing needs a lot of work.
There's a chance Langeliers can turn things around. He's still relatively young, after all, and he'll have every opportunity to learn on the fly considering Oakland isn't competing anytime soon. But his struggles, combined with Olson's 2023 surge, makes this trade a win for the Braves in a landslide.
