Report: Braves won't make Swanson available through trade
Two teams with an interest in a potentially offseason altering move seem to be playing hardball in trade negotiations.
With the Atlanta Braves showing interest in Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale, the team from Georgia have made it clear they will not be including young shortstop Dansby Swanson in any trade, a rival executive said, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
Swanson, a former first overall draft pick, entered the season as the second-best shortstop prospect in all of baseball and enjoyed a fine major-league debut in 2016, hitting .302/.361/.442 in 38 games with three home runs and 17 RBIs.
The two teams have exchanged dialogue recently, with the Braves willing to include some of the team's top prospects, a group that includes the highly coveted infielder Ozzie Albies, left-handed pitchers Sean Newcomb and Kolby Allard, right-hander Ian Anderson, and shortstop Kevin Maitan, to name a few.
Another team showing interest in Sale are the Washington Nationals, a club that has been on the forefront of trade rumors with additional interest in Andrew McCutchen. The Nationals have top pitching prospect Lucas Giolito and outfielder Victor Robles, but Heyman notes the White Sox are said to prefer the Braves' group of young players.
Teams reportedly in the hunt for Sale include the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.