MLB Winter Meetings are around the corner, and they can’t come soon enough. The first five weeks of the offseason have brought about very little exciting news, unless you’re the Dodgers, of course. However, all of that is expected to change over the next week. Juan Soto should sign in the coming days, which will result in an avalanche of transactions to follow.
The Braves should be heavily involved in all of it. They have a plethora of holes to fill and even hope to bring back a couple of marquee names. But a lot of it will be determined by the market, which has shown early signs of being quite inflated. The Braves aren’t a team that pays sticker price for anything, and that could mean Alex Anthopoulos will once again pivot to the trade market for his substantial acquisitions, which is chock full of some intriguing names at positions of need.
Jesus Luzardo
Interdivisional trades are uncommon, but the Marlins have done it several times in the past, and given their situation, I don’t imagine there would be too much pushback against doing it again with Jesus Luzardo. They aren’t anywhere close to competing in the NL East, and he only has two years left on his contract. The Fish should be looking for the best possible package, regardless of whether it comes for a team inside the division or not.
Luzardo is the type of target the Braves like to go after. At his peak, he has some of the best stuff in the game with frontline starter potential. He’s a southpaw that is several years younger than Max Fried, has more upside, and will come at a fraction of the price. Luzardo would typically demand a king’s ransom in a trade, but there’s one caveat, he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He’s only made more than 18 starts once in his career — 2022, when he made 32 and recorded 4.0 WAR — and is coming off a season in which he dealt with elbow tightness and a back injury.
That makes it a bit of a gamble, but it also makes Luzardo more attainable.
Braves Hypothetical Trade for Jesus Luzardo
Braves Get: Jesus Luzardo
Marlins Get: AJ Smith-Shawver, JR Ritchie, Cameron Caminiti
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This would sting a little for the Braves, as it’s three of their top 10 prospects, but only AJ Smith-Shawver will reach the majors anytime soon. Ritchie is multiple years away, and Caminiti was just drafted out of high school. For a team that’s trying to win a championship now, they shouldn’t be too worried about a half-decade down the road.
On the flip side, the Marlins are getting three high-upside arms that could all be featured in their future rotation. This feels like a fair deal for both sides, although pitching has not been the issue for Miami. It’s been their offense, so they could be more interested in players like Nacho Alvarez or Drake Baldwin, which the Braves might be willing to do as well.
Pete Fairbanks
MLB insider Jon Morosi recently reported that teams are showing interest in Rays pitchers Jeffrey Springs (LHP) and Pete Fairbanks (RHP)
Fairbanks might pique the interest of the Braves, who found out to kick off the offseason that Joe Jimenez will miss most of the 2025 campaign. The need for another high-leverage bullpen arm exists, but Atlanta probably doesn’t want to spend a ton of money on the void, given all of their other needs. Enter Fairbanks, who is Tampa Bay’s hard-throwing closer and is scheduled to make less than $4 million next season with a $7 million option for 2026.
Braves Hypothetical Trade for Pete Fairbanks
Braves Get: Pete Fairbanks
Rays Get: Owen Murphy
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In a few years, this hypothetical trade could be one Braves fans look back on and go, “What the hell?” But if Atlanta wins a World Series with Fairbanks playing an integral role, nobody would care. Owen Murphy was off to a ridiculous start this year before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He’s probably a few years away from the majors, but he’d have a chance to thrive in an organization like the Rays, who have become known for their incredible player development.
Brendan Donovan
The Cardinals appear to be hitting the reset button, and while that doesn’t mean they have to trade a young player like Brendan Donovan, who is under contract for three more years at an affordable rate, they should certainly be entertaining offers.
Donovan is set to turn 28 years old and owns a .771 OPS over three MLB seasons, but what makes him extremely attractive is his ability to play a ton of positions. Donovan could easily slot into either of the Braves’ corner outfield spots while also filling in around the infield if injuries arise.
Braves Hypothetical Trade for Brendan Donovan
Braves Get: Brendan Donovan
Cardinals Get: Hurston Waldrep and Nacho AlvarezÂ
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The Cardinals aren’t an organization that likes lengthy rebuilds. They probably plan on competing in the not-too-distant future. The Braves reportedly are high on Hurston Waldrep, but I don’t believe for a second he’s untouchable in the right package. Alvarez is an exciting prospect, but unless he can develop defensively as a shortstop, Donovan is an upgrade who’s able to play more positions and comes with three years of control.
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Photographer: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire
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