If one thing has become clear over the Braves recent rough stretch of play, it’s that they have a lot of work left to do at the trade deadline.

The need to upgrade their left field platoon and DH. Some more relief help should always be viewed as a plus. They should probably take a look at available shortstop options, even if those kind of players are rarely traded this time of year. But most importantly, they must add a legitimate frontline starting pitcher — price be damned.

This team is too talented when healthy to punt on a season in order to horde prospects for the future, and for the first time in a while, the Braves actually have the prospect capital to target a high profile arm without completely depleting their farm system.

Of all the potential starting pitchers that could be available, Tarik Skubal is obviously the one that’s going to grab all of the headlines. He’s arguably the best pitcher in the sport — coming off back-to-back AL Cy Young campaigns — and is on the final year of his deal while playing for a team that is unlikely to make the playoffs, let alone compete for a championship.

The Tigers would be fools not to trade him, and Bob Nightengale is reporting that executives believe the Braves are the sleeper team to watch in the Skubal sweepstakes. 

“The sleeper in the Tarik Skubal sweepstakes, several executives predict, will be Atlanta. The cost could be two of their top-10 prospects, including one who’s in the top 100 overall.”

Because Skubal is a rental, the asking price is not going to be as significant as it typically would for a pitcher of his caliber. The Braves currently have four guys that are viewed as top 100 prospects overall — JR Ritchie, Tate Southisene, Eric Hartman, and Cam Caminiti. Didier Fuentes is also essentially a top 100 prospect, even if he recently graduated from prospect status. However, I highly doubt the Braves would be interested in parting ways with five-plus years of Fuentes for a couple of months of Skubal.

One of the other four paired with another top 10 prospect should certainly be on the table, however.

As currently constructed, it will take a mini-miracle for the Braves to win the World Series. That may sound harsh for a team that’s 20 games over .500 before the calendar even flips to July, but it’s the truth. At best, they are fringe championship contenders. Tarik Skubal takes them from that to World Series favorites.

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(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)