The 49-55 San Francisco Giants look like sellers as the MLB Trade Deadline approaches. For a team like the Atlanta Braves looking for options to bolster the roster, this could spell a potential trade partner. 

Two key additions to the team would be an outfield bat and a starting pitcher, both of which the Giants have a few options to check in on. 

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is reportedly drawing interest as the deadline approaches. 

Snell struggled in each of his first six starts before going down with a left groin strain – he had a 9.51 ERA at the time he landed on the IL. But it’s possible that high ERA was entirely due to his injury.

In three starts since returning, Snell has a 1.00 ERA (two earned runs in 18 innings of work).

If his recent performance is truly what Snell would bring to the table, the Braves shouldn’t be shy about accepting his contract – two years, $62 million. The second year is a player option, so he might end up being just a rental. 

The early-season performance plus the contract situation could be leverage for the Braves to give up less in a deal than if they made the move last season – the year he won the NL Cy Young. 

Another starter option is impending free agent Alex Cobb. The 36-year-old righty is in the final year of his contract and has yet to pitch this season due to injury. However, according to The Athletic, he’s expected to make his debut on Sunday. If he comes back and is effective out of the gate, he could prove to be a cheaper rental option for the Braves. 

Cobb is making $10 million this year, and the Braves would only owe part of that. Flip the Giants a quality minor leaguer and that could be all it takes to land Cobb.

In 74 starts over his previous three seasons, Cobb has a respectable 3.74 ERA. 

A Giants outfielder with a high likelihood of being traded is Michael Conforto. The Braves saw plenty of him when he was with the New York Mets from 2015 to 2021. The old foe could become a key addition. 

In 80 games this season, Conforto is batting .226 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI. His average and on-base percentage are both down, but his power numbers make up for that (.415 slugging this season versus a .386 slugging in 2022). His 105 OPS+ is also still better than any outfielder that has played for the Braves this season. 

Although not a big move, Conforto could be the right move for the Braves outfield.

Now, there’s another outfield option from the Giants that fans would get excited about that has shown to be the right move in the past. That option is 2021 World Series MVP Jorge Soler. 

But his contract will be an obstacle.

He’s in the first year of a three-year, $42 million contract. The only likely way a Soler trade would be worthwhile for the Braves is if the Giants retained a good chunk of his contract. It could be argued that that’s more important than how much the Braves actually give up in the deal — because it wouldn’t take high-end talent to land Soler. 

If the Giants are willing to retain salary, then the Braves could have a reunion with a key name. Should the change of scenery help Soler, then whatever the Braves owe could be a steal on top of it.

An Atlanta church recently found out it’s set to be auctioned off by creditors thanks to unpaid property taxes — which the administrators were never aware they had to pay.

As a registered nonprofit, Solid Rock Christian Ministries for years had been exempt from paying property taxes. That status appears to have changed in 2017 — unbeknownst to the church administration — and the organization’s debt had been piling up.

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“We had no clue that we were even getting notifications,” Pastor Jahmaul Williams told WSB-TV. “We had been considered tax exempt.”

More than 45 years ago, Williams’ grandmother had donated her northwest Atlanta house to become the church. But Williams says the church didn’t even realize tax bills were coming in since they were being mailed to a former pastor — who died in 1996.

Administrators became aware they owed back taxes when a groundskeeper noticed a piece of paper tucked under the doormat at the church’s front entrance. As it turns out, Fulton County had sold the tax debt to collection agency Investa Services, which is now pushing to foreclose in August unless the church pays $67,000 in tax debt, interest and fees.

“We have been notified that they are going to try to sell our property on the courthouse steps,” Williams said.

What happened

A county official reportedly told state Sen. Donzella James they revoked the church’s property tax exemption because its title included a person’s name (even though it always has).

The owner is recorded as “Johnson Carrie Admr Church,” named after the church’s first pastor, Carrie Johnson, who died in 1989.

“I cannot understand how a church that is active and functioning in the community could be changed from nonprofit to profit,” James told WSB-TV.

“It’s a lot of people dropping balls here. And now we need to stop this and give them an opportunity to satisfy, rather than have their property sold on the courthouse steps.”

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Story continues

What’s going to happen next?

The Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta says “all property owned by and operated exclusively as a church or other religious association” is exempt from property taxes.

However, the National Council of Nonprofits notes most state laws require nonprofit corporations to periodically confirm or update their basic contact information, like their mailing address and the names of responsible parties.

WSB-TV reports that under Georgia law, third-party lien holders must notify you within 60 days of assuming your debt and can charge you a one-time 10% penalty, with 1% interest accruing each month.

They must also wait 12 months before foreclosure.

The church has apparently hired a lawyer and is hoping to fix the title issue.

“We should not be taxed,” Williams said. “We are a church. We’ve been known to be a ministry.”

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

The Atlanta Braves announced a series of roster moves ahead of Thursday night’s matchup in Queens. Up first, the club reinstated third baseman Austin Riley from the paternity list and recalled right-hander Daysbel Hernández to Atlanta. To clear a roster spot, the club designated infielder Zack Short for assignment.

Luckily, Riley just missed one game since the Braves were rained out. He came back strong in his return, recording two hits.

Hernández has logged 9.2 innings this season and has yet to surrender a run. This will likely be another short stint for him, as a starting pitcher will be promoted in the coming days.

As for Short, playing time in Atlanta became very unlikely after Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Whit Merrifield were added.

More Braves News:

Despite Chris Sale’s dominance, the Braves turned in an embarrassing 3-2 loss to the New York Mets. The series continues tonight with Charlie Morton on the bump.

Michael Harris II was recently transferred to the 60-day IL after he experienced soreness while attempting to recover from a hamstring strain. He is now eligible to be activated on August 14.

Brian Snitker and Dale Alexander are each members of the Appalachian League’s 2024 Hall of Fame Class.

The Braves have reportedly shown interest in right-hander Zach Eflin. The Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals have also checked in on him.

Outfielder Forrest Wall has been claimed by the Miami Marlins after the Braves designated him for assignment earlier this week. The Fish optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Didier Funetes struck out eight in his Wednesday outing for Augusta. More in the minor league recap.

Nacho Alvarez Jr. rounds out the 7-12 section of the Braves’ Top 30 Prospects.

At this point in the season, the Braves can either turn out like the 2021 Braves or just like the disappointing 2014 team.

David O’Brien of the Athletic discusses Matt Olson’s slump, the player-led meeting, and more.

MLB News:

Dylan Cease no-hit the Washington Nationals and threw the second no-hitter in San Diego Padres history.

The A’s placed closer Mason Miller on the 15-day injured list due to a fractured left hand. In a corresponding move, the club activated Ross Stripling.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are reportedly interested in left-hander Rich Hill. The 44-year-old is currently a free agent.

The Baltimore Orioles placed INF/OF Jorge Mateo on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow subluxation. The injury came on Tuesday after a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson.

A’s starters Luis Medina and Alex Wood are each out for the season. Medina is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, and Wood will undergo a procedure on his shoulder.

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired left-hander A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins. In exchange, the Marlins will receive two prospects.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is aiming to avoid surgery after experiencing lower back inflammation.