Braves trade idea sends JR Ritchie, 4 other prospects to Angels for .795 OPS infielder

There may be no other club in the Majors that needs an upgrade at shortstop more than the Atlanta Braves. 

The return of Ha-Seong Kim has been a nightmare, with three other players 9 (Jorge Mateo, Mauricio Dubon, Jim Jarvis) also making over a handful of appearances at the position. 

"Aside from the first half of the 2023 season when Orlando Arcia was a surprise All-Star before regressing, the Braves have not had a legitimate everyday shortstop since Dansby Swanson left town," Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter wrote Tuesday. 

It's been a long time since the Braves had a reliable option as their everyday shortstop. Could Zach Neto of the Los Angeles Angels be that guy? 

Neto is on track for the third 20/20 season of his four-year MLB career while playing poor defense. This year, Neto has minus-9 outs above average at shortstop. 

Reuter's trade proposal includes the following: 

• Braves Receive: SS Zach Neto
• Angels Receive: RHP JR Ritchie, OF Eric Hartman, RHP Owen Murphy, OF Diego Tornes, INF Jim Jarvis

There may be one thing that causes the Braves to hesitate on this deal. 

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"Shortstop has not been a strength, but the Braves have managed to patch things together. The bigger need might be another frontline starting pitcher to anchor the playoff rotation alongside Chris Sale, and they only have so many bullets to spend from a thin farm system," Reuter added. 

Neto would offer an immediate offensive upgrade, but the Braves may be better off using a few of the prospects in Reuter's trade idea on a starting pitcher instead. 

Atlanta could readdress the shortstop situation another way or during the offseason. 

More MLB news:

• Yankees are ‘leading candidate’ to trade for Twins’ Ryan Jeffers
• Red Sox ‘would love’ to trade for Angels’ Zach Neto or Astros’ Jeremy Pena
• Padres likely not to trade Mason Miller amid latest update
• Tigers expected to trade Tarik Skubal but still try to contend without him
• Mets ‘desperate’ to trade Luis Robert Jr. after trade failure