Atlanta Braves Trade Rumors: Why Braves Don't Need To Make Any Deadline Deals

The Atlanta Braves join a number of teams wanting to add a hitter before the MLB trade deadline. They are currently four games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East, and many believe the only way to catch them is to trade for a hitter. 

However, the Braves are very capable of winning on their own. Making a deadline deal shouldn't be the main focus of this team right now.

Rumors state the Braves are interested in guys like Carlos Beltran, Carlos Quentin, Ryan Ludwick, Josh Willingham, B.J. Upton and Jonny Gomes.   

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, the Braves have every intention to deal for a bat before the deadline, but they are hesitant on giving up top prospects. 

Beltran is the highest on their list, but he will cost the most. The others are cheaper options for the Braves, but they could live without making a trade at all. 

Martin Prado has returned and is doing well, and Chipper Jones is expected to return after this weekend. Once the Braves get a healthy roster, they will dominate teams because they are extremely talented. 

The reason Atlanta is after a hitter is because its players have been underperforming at the plate. Guys like Dan Uggla, Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth should be hitting better, but they have all struggled way too much this season.

The Braves traded for Uggla this offseason expecting him to be the missing link to a division title. He is currently hitting .193 with 17 home runs and 38 RBI. Those numbers should be way better, but Uggla has taken on the persona of "Struggla" this season. 

Granted, Uggla has picked it up lately, but the Braves need him to continue to do well. Atlanta just needs all of its hitters to live up to their potential. Thankfully, Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman are producing at a high level; otherwise, who knows where this team would be. 

Their pitching is fantastic and it can hang with any team in Major League Baseball. Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Derek Lowe have carried the team this far, and now it's time for the hitting to step it up.

Atlanta does not need to give up any top prospects for a hitter this year. Last season the Braves were in first place when they traded for Derek Lee, and it didn't work out like they hoped it would.

Lee had similar numbers to what Beltran has right now, but once he got to the Braves he didn't dominate as expected. The exact same thing could happen this year, and the Braves would be giving up better talent this time around.  

They have the talent to compete with any team in the league and they are very capable of catching the Phillies. The Braves just need to start playing up to their potential, because the power is already in the lineup.