At Trade Deadline Atlanta Braves Land Michael Bourn

The Atlanta Braves' unwillingness to part with their top pitching prospects almost cost them a much needed bat before the trade deadline. Waiting on Hunter Pence and Carlos Beltran led them both to be shipped to other teams, Pence to the division rival Phillies and Beltran to the team that beat the Braves in last year's playoffs the San Francisco Giants. Then Sunday night they made a trade for Houston Astros center fielder Michael Bourn.

In the deal the Braves got Bourn and their first true leadoff hitter in half a decade. The Astros got none of the braves most valued prospects and outfielder Jordan Schafer who had played the majority of the season in the majors but was recently put on the disabled list with a broken finger.

The change of scenery will likely be good for Bourn. With the Astros he was playing for an also-ran team and sat over 24 games out of first place in the National League Central Division. The Braves have a dominant pitching corps that has been hurt by a weak offense all year long. With the addition of Bourn and the struggling Dan Uggla putting together a 22 game hit streak the Braves could look to catch the Philadephia Phillies for the Division Title or extend their lead in the wild card chase.