Kelenic is the main attraction in this deal, and he was once one of the game’s hottest prospects. He struggled in his first two major-league stints, but he made significant strides last season, hitting.759 with 11 home runs in his first 90 games before breaking his foot in July.
Kelenic possesses tremendous raw power, and the potential benefits of this acquisition are undeniable. He’ll compete for a starting spot in left field, and given how the Braves typically get the most out of their players, this could be a steal for Alex Anthopoulos, especially since Kelenic is under contract until 2028.
Marco Gonzales also adds depth to the Braves’ rotation. He’s not the frontline starter that many fans hoped Anthopoulos would sign, and that could still happen before the season begins, but he can slot into the back of the rotation and eat some innings. The Braves’ starting pitchers have been injured frequently over the last two seasons. Having another veteran option as depth can only be considered a positive. Gonzales has a $12 million contract for next year and a $15 million club option for 2025.
Evan White, the Mariners’ 17th overall pick in 2017, is another former first-round pick. He won a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2020, but he hasn’t shown much power at the plate, hitting only.165 in 84 major league games. White has also suffered a number of injuries. With Matt Olson in the fold, it’s difficult to see him seeing much field time, and he’s owed $7 million next year and $8 million in 2025. We’ll see if he even makes the Braves’ roster, as the Mariners clearly just wanted to get his contract off their books.
The Mariners receive little in return from the Braves. In the trade that sent Kyle Wright to the Royals, Jackson Kowar was acquired. He’s more of a lottery ticket than anything else in this deal with the Mariners, flashing a big arm that hasn’t yet translated at the major league level.
Cole Phillips is the only notable prospect moving to Seattle in this trade. He was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft and has a lot of projectability, despite being only 20 years old and coming off Tommy John surgery. It will be some time before he is ready to contribute in the major leagues.
In terms of prospects, the Braves essentially gave up nothing for a player who could be their starting left fielder in 2024 and beyond, as well as a potential backend starter. On paper, that’s a win, but they did take on a lot of salary in this deal. Hopefully, this does not eliminate them from contention for a bigger prize, but there is no doubt that the Braves are in a better position to win today than they were yesterday.
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