The Atlanta Braves aren't making any trades for the present as bottom-dwellers of the National League at 31-59 going into Saturday's play. That doesn't mean the Braves won't be opportune buyers come the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Braves are in the market for a catcher of the future and, due to injuries, also the present and will look to acquire that player before the non-waiver trade deadline.
Starting catcher Tyler Flowers is lost until at least September with a fractured left hand. The Braves were already contemplating going in another direction next season, according to Bowman, and might expedite that move at the deadline. Currently, veteran A.J. Pierzynski, 39, and 32-year-old call-up Anthony Recker are sharing the duties.
"Right now, I think we'd have to stand in line to get our catching position solved," president of baseball operations John Hart told MLB.com "We're certainly going to look at catching, but I don't know that we're going to find the right guy to step in right now. But don't think for a minute we're not examining the catching situation."
The Braves could go after the Brewers' Jonathan Lucroy, who is back to his All-Star form and has a player option of $5.25 million for next season. If a player his caliber isn't attainable, the Braves are almost assuredly looking for a veteran to help provide guidance to young pitchers.
The plan, according to Bowman, is for Flowers to be used as a backup next season with an established catcher handling the majority of the duties.
