As more insight emerges about the Braves’ disappointing trade deadline, it’s becoming evident Alex Anthopoulos had his eyes fixed on the top of the starting pitching market — and if he couldn’t get what he wanted, he felt comfortable standing pat.
Ken Rosenthal reported on multiple occasions about Atlanta’s interest in Jacob deGrom, who ultimately used the power of his no-trade clause to stay in Texas.
“The Braves informed the Rangers of their desire to land deGrom, according to people briefed on the discussions who were offered anonymity for their candor,” Rosenthal wrote following the trade deadline. “The Rangers told deGrom if he wanted to waive his no-trade clause for Atlanta, they would make a deal happen, the source said, but deGrom said no, explaining that he wanted to win in Texas.”
Additionally, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting the Braves were also in on Tarik Skubal, making their top prospects available in a potential deal. The Tigers, however, seemed to be solely focused on the Dodgers’ farm system.
The Braves were in on Tarik Skubal and made some of their top prospects available, but Detroit never presented an offer that’d get it done. It seems like it was always going to be the Dodgers there.
— Gabe Burns (@GabeBurnsAJC) August 4, 2026
It’s fair to say the way the Skubal deal went down with Los Angeles was a little sketchy. The owners know a lockout is coming, and they’re prepared to dig their heels in as they push for a salary cap, which would raise the valuation of every single franchise. With Skubal joining an already loaded Dodgers roster, they now have the perfect argument for the competitive imbalance of the league.
So it’s possible the Tigers’ quick trigger came with ulterior motives. At the very least, they could have waited until deadline day to ensure they got the best package possible.
But no matter the explanation in either of these situations, nothing justifies the Braves coming away with so little. They had the farm system to complete any deal imaginable, clear areas to upgrade, and a team right in the middle of its championship window. When the Skubal and deGrom pursuits fell through, they should have known exactly where to pivot to improve the pitching staff, whether that meant adding to the rotation or the bullpen.
—
(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)