The Braves approach the trade deadline with a glaring need for reinforcements. Not only does the club need bodies to improve its performance on the field, but it also feels like Atlanta needs an influx of life, similar to what Joc Pederson gave them in 2021.
The Braves top contributors are all on the shelf, but as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic asks rhetorically, “From Ronald Acuña Jr. to Ozzie Albies, Max Fried to Michael Harris II to Spencer Strider, the amount of star power on the Atlanta Braves’ injured list is staggering. But like the Mariners, what are they supposed to do, give up?”
No, if the Braves expect Max Fried back, that is a rotation that can lead a club to a championship if the bats come around at the right time. As I’ve been talking about for weeks now, the Braves are notorious for filling future needs if the opportunity presents itself, which is what Rosenthal adds to what he’s hearing about Atlanta’s trade deadline plans.
“Ideally, the Braves would add a controllable starting pitcher, the most difficult commodity to acquire at the deadline or any other time of year. Their need is obvious. Fried is a free agent after this season. Charlie Morton might retire. And Strider will be coming off major elbow surgery.”
Starting pitchers are incredibly expensive at the trade deadline; it’s why Anthopoulos generally has avoided them. The Braves prefer value over anything, evident in the Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez acquisitions. However, outfielders are much more attainable.
“A rental outfielder, though, is a more realistic target. The Braves do not need a controllable type with Acuña Jr. expected back next Opening Day, Harris and Jarred Kelenic likely filling the other two spots in 2025 and the exercising of designated hitter Marcell Ozuna’s $16 million option looking like a near-certainty.”
I actually don’t agree with Rosenthal’s assessment here. The Braves do need an outfielder, but acting like Ronald Acuna Jr. is going to step right back into an everyday role in right field next season seems like a tall order. This will be his second ACL injury in three years, and it might be best if he’s relegated to a DH role.
Granted, with Marcell Ozuna in the fold, this is where things get complicated. The Braves need an outfielder; there’s no doubt about that. As Rosenthal states, this rotation is good enough to give them a chance if Anthopoulos can upgrade the other areas.
“In the end, Atlanta’s starting pitching — Fried, Chris Sale, Reynaldo López and Charlie Morton — should give the team a chance in October, provided it is healthy. In 2021, when the Braves won the World Series, they allowed only 18 runs combined in their 11 wins.”
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Photo: David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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