As a Braves fan, I much prefer Vaughn Grissom over Paul DeJong at shortstop. DeJong's '22 season wasn't pretty. It might take a Christmas miracle for him to stay in St. Louis and with that said, there's no reason Atlanta would want him. Matz is a 4th starter, at best on the Brave and I'd rather go with Bryce Elder and Ian Anderson. I don't not like Matz it's just that he's a little bit of $ for what he brings. I like Matthew Liberatore and if Matz were to replace Fried in the Braves' rotation then Liberatore's depth and I find that a little redundant with Anderson and Elder filling that role. I like Jordan Walker and certainly not sleeping on him. But it's already a crowded house in LF for the Braves. I'd take Walker over all the other options but it's unrealistic to not consider the loss of value that goes along with adding something shiny. Masyn Winn's fun, but he's not helping the Braves any time soon and restocking the farm is not a primary goal and in this trade Winn's the second highest value going to the Braves. Not a great fit.

You have to step back and look at the big picture. DeJong and Matz are in the deal primarily to even the money from St. Louis perspective. DeJong is insurance in case Grissom falls flat at short (very possible) and could/would position as a defensive sub for middle infield - Braves are going to carry one of those anyway. Matz is a year removed from a nice year as a SP and had decent stats last year once you get past the ERA. Likely he's no better than a #4 butif you trade Fried you have to have a sure thing body to replace him with. In fact, I look at Matz/Liberatore as connected - as Matz fades hopefully Lib rises. Walker "probably" is a better defensive 3B than Riley which would push Riley to LF. If not, then Walker to LF. Winn is the "projected" future of short and certainly insurance against Grissom not being able to defensively handle short, a very real possibility if not likelihood. From a Cards standpoint, it's pretty simple: get the top LH SP in the game to lead their rotation for at least the next two years plus a more than serviceable RP and a power guy coming off injury as a flier who likely has no 40 man spot with Atlanta with Ozuna still around. From the Braves standpoint it's more nuanced: Turn Fried into a ML #4 LHSP under control but fairly expensive, a LHSP prospect who hasn't been able to establish himself but still has promise, a MI defensive first shortstop that the Cards would love to move and the Braves could use as a bounce back guy or, at worst, a late inning defensive replacement, one of the better near ready shortstop prospects in baseball and arguably the best 3B prospect in baseball. Of course, all this is predicated on the Braves not being able to extend Fried, which seems extremely doubtful given that it hasn't happened yet and the Braves have been to arby hearings with him twice already, winning once, losing once. The Braves are in a weird position where they have an excellent core with which to contend and keeping Fried would almost certainly improve the odds. BUT, the farm is very barren and the payroll is very likely currently maxed out, at least until Ozuna, Rosario and Morton are gone from the books. That means that the Braves have positioned themselves where they have to gamble a lot (Grissom at starting short or Arcia, bounce backs from Rosario and Ozuna, no sophomore slumps from Harris or Strider, returns to form by Anderson and/or Soroka. And they have to hope that it pays off because any value that Fried might have likely diminishes with time. This trade solidifies the Cards to make a run and it adds more uncertainty for the Braves without totally killing any chance for 2023 but almost certainly improving the outlook for 2024 and beyond.