Sitting at 36-18, armed with better prospect depth than in years past and a significant amount of cash freed up by the Jurickson Profar suspension, the Braves are in an ideal position to be more aggressive than ever at the trade deadline.
This piece will highlight potential National League sellers with a trade target from each team. Up next, I’ll cover the American League.
Colorado Rockies — Antonio Senzatela
The Rockies have been scrappier than they were a year ago, but they’re still among the worst teams in baseball and will almost certainly be sellers at the deadline.
Senzatela will be a name that generates a lot of attention. Colorado converted him to a full-time reliever this season, and he’s been spectacular in the new role — posting a 1.13 ERA and 415 ERA+ over 32 innings. Those are remarkable numbers for any pitcher, but especially one who calls Coors Field home for half his appearances.
The Braves bullpen has been among the best in all of baseball, and it’s no fluke. But adding another high-powered arm to the group is extremely attractive.
Miami Marlins — Sandy Alcantara
The Marlins are sitting at 26-29 and not completely out of the wild card race just yet. But if that changes over the next couple of months, Sandy Alcantara’s arm will be at the forefront of trade conversations.
Alcantara isn’t the Cy Young-caliber pitcher he was before Tommy John surgery, but he still has a big arm and is posting a 3.72 FIP on the season. Add in a relatively affordable $21 million club option for 2027, and there will be no shortage of teams willing to roll the dice on him.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Bryan Reynolds
If the trade deadline were tomorrow, the Pirates would likely be buyers. They’re sitting in last place in the NL Central despite being just 4.5 games out of first — that’s how tight that division is as June approaches.
The deadline isn’t tomorrow, though, and by the time July rolls around it’s entirely possible Pittsburgh decides to sell. If they do, Bryan Reynolds is an intriguing name to watch. He’s in the middle of an eight-year, $106.75 million contract that pays him north of $15 million through the 2030 season.
It’s not a bad deal for what Reynolds provides, but there’s no question he’s underdelivered on the expectations that came with signing it — and the Pirates don’t like paying players. There could be a buy-low opportunity here for the Braves.
San Francisco Giants — Heliot Ramos
The Giants have spent heavily and taken several big swings, only to find themselves 22-31 and essentially out of the NL West race before June. They’ve already begun selling, shipping two-time Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians.
That fire sale will likely continue through the deadline, and while most of the conversation will center around starting pitchers Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, a right-handed outfield bat sits near the top of the Braves’ list of needs.
Ramos isn’t a superstar, but he posted a .792 OPS a couple of seasons ago and has hit 20-plus home runs in each of the last two years. He’s also under team control at an affordable rate through 2029, giving the Braves some long-term stability in left field — a position that has been a black hole for far too long. He’d be a solid platoon option alongside Mike Yastrzemski.
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