It’s hard to watch a game against the Boston Red Sox and not come away thinking they make a lot of sense as a trade partner for the Braves if they continue to fall behind in the standings.
Following Tuesday’s loss — courtesy of a monstrous night from Michael Harris II — the Red Sox have dropped four straight. They sit at 22-31, last place in the AL East and already 12.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. There’s still some hope given how weak the American League is overall, but if they can’t right the ship over the next two months, they will be sellers — and they have plenty of intriguing names to move.
Greg Weissert
We don’t get to see a ton of the Red Sox, but watching Greg Weissert pitch Tuesday night was impressive. He doesn’t throw 100 MPH, but his arm angle makes it seem like he does — especially against right-handed hitters — and he pairs that fastball with a lively sweeper. It’s hard to imagine how anyone hits him from the right side. The Braves already have a great bullpen, but adding an arm like Weissert for middle relief would be a significant boost, and the fact that he’s under team control for two more seasons makes him even more attractive.
Sonny Gray
Stop me if you’ve heard this before — a trade rumor involving Sonny Gray and the Braves. Now 36 years old, he may not be quite what he once was, but he still owns a respectable 3.27 ERA over nine starts this season. And unlike a lot of starting pitchers, he probably won’t demand an enormous haul either, given he’s in the final year of his contract with a $30 million mutual option for next season.
Aroldis Chapman
The Braves already have one of the best bullpens in baseball, but adding Aroldis Chapman would essentially turn every game into a five-inning affair. He’s been the best reliever in baseball since the start of last season, posting a 1.03 ERA over 88 appearances. If the Braves don’t want to meet the asking price on the top starting pitchers available, turning their bullpen into an absolute juggernaut is a compelling alternative — and Chapman is a guy who does that.
Garrett Whitlock
If the Braves don’t want to part with the prospect haul it would take to land Chapman, Garrett Whitlock wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize. Since the start of the 2024 campaign he owns a 2.37 ERA with over 11 strikeouts per nine innings across 86 appearances, and he comes with an $8 million club option for 2027 and a $10 million club option for 2028.
Jarren Duran
Because of Boston’s crowded outfield, Duran’s name has been the subject of trade rumors for years. He’s off to a rough start in 2026, hitting just .198 with seven home runs, but from 2024 to 2025 he hit .271 with an .805 OPS and accumulated 13.7 WAR. Left field has been a problem in Atlanta for far too long. Adding Duran, who is under contract through the 2028 season, fixes it in one swift move.
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(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)