Braves haul could keep growing

SHELBY MILLER was such an attractive commodity in this current pitching climate that the Cubs finished second in trade bidding for him despite offering promising right fielder Jorge Soler as part of a return.

The Braves instead decided to take a package Tuesday from the Diamondbacks that included the first overall pick in last June’s draft, shortstop Dansby Swanson.

Braves officials were aware the Diamondbacks concurrently were offering Swanson as part of a package to the Marlins for Jose Fernandez, and that made the Braves even more aggressive to finalize the deal with the Diamondbacks that also brought outfielder Ender Inciarte and wellregarded pitching prospect Aaron Blair.

In the immediate aftermath of the trade, the Braves were inundated with calls about Inciarte. The Braves plan to play him in center field, but they will listen to offers.

The Mets were not among the teams acting aggressively, but Inciarte is among the leftyswinging centerfield options at whom they are looking. Michael Bourn, who is displaced from center and becomes the Braves’ fourth outfielder, was a Mets freeagent target a few years back, but is of no interest to them now.

The Braves have spent this offseason — like all of last year — selling the present (Miller and Simmons) for, they hope, the near future, especially with a new park in 2017 (a park near where Swanson grew up in Marietta, Ga., as the Braves continued to show their affinity for local products).

Miller was a big piece to lose, especially because he is good now and — if he ever fully refines his offspeed stuff — he might be an ace. But Blair joins lefty Sean Newcombe (the big piece back for Simmons) as two more pieces in what has been a haul of touted pitching prospects obtained since John Hart became the head of Atlanta’s baseball operations last year.

The addition of Swanson addresses future positional needs in the strongest way yet. As great as Simmons’ defense is, the Braves were growing concerned about his declining offense and rising salary. Swanson joins Ozhaino Albies to give Atlanta two of the sport’s best shortstop prospects.