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Nico Hoerner has been linked to several teams so far this winter.

The Atlanta Braves are having a quality offseason and have dedicated over $60 million in free agency to relievers.

That started with re-signing Raisel Iglesias, and then making perhaps the team’s best signing this offseason by bringing in Robert Suarez on a three-year, $45 million deal to ensure Atlanta has fewer bullpen issues in 2026. However, is Suarez now a trade piece after Ha-Seong Kim went down with a hand injury? A wild hypothetical trade idea by Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller seems to think so, as Robert Suarez was featured in the piece to help the Braves land Chicago Cubs‘ infielder, Nico Hoerner.

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Does This Trade Idea Make Sense?

The Braves went out and locked up Robert Suarez to a three-year extension, and while that doesn’t make him untradable ‘by the book’, you’d think Atlanta would want to see what they have in the $45 million arm first before making a rash decision. Atlanta traded for Mauricio Dubon earlier this offseason and recently brought in Jorge Mateo for some more infield depth.

Here is the reasoning Miller wrote behind the wild trade idea:

GettyNico Hoerner has been linked to several teams so far this winter.

“The year before Chicago signed Dansby Swanson, Hoerner was their primary shortstop, and a darn good one. And with Ha-Seong Kim out indefinitely with a torn tendon in his right middle finger, maybe Hoerner fills that void for the Braves? Coincidentally, Atlanta has two quality closers on its roster, while the lack of an established closer is maybe the Cubs’ biggest question mark.”

While the Cubs may not have an established closer, why does that mean the Braves have to give up one of theirs to a conference rival?

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Would the Braves Trade Robert Suarez?

Nothing to this point since signing Robert Suarez, says that the Braves will make a blockbuster trade for him. That’s not to say it may not happen in the future, but for now at least, most Braves fans, coaches, executives, and those who cover the team likely want to see him in a Braves uniform for now.

And for the Cubs’ Nico Hoener, he continues to be one of the hotter names in the trade landscape across MLB right now, and it will be interesting to see what type of buzz he receives through February and into the start of the season.

The basis for BR’s trade idea makes sense from the Braves perspective in needing a middle infielder, because there’s no denying that after the Kim injury, but to give up their biggest signing this offseason in terms of total value might not be the best idea for the Braves right now.

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