The Braves have obvious needs, and nobody around Atlanta is pretending otherwise. The question is how far Alex Anthopoulos should push when the trade deadline arrives.
Jesús Cano of The Athletic recently argued that Anthopoulos ought to go all the way in pursuit of another World Series for Atlanta. He even opened his “what they should do” section with the phrase “sell the farm.”
That kind of aggression sounds appealing on paper, especially for a club that could use help in the rotation. But there’s a real cost attached to that kind of move, and it gets steep fast when the return is only for a short-term run. Atlanta’s farm system has climbed high enough that moving significant pieces for a single season feels like a risky bet.
The idea of chasing a rental star like Tarik Skubal is easy to sell in theory. It becomes a different conversation when the price tag includes prospects such as Eric Hartman or Tate Southisene.
At that point, you’re not just making a tweak. You’re making an all-in move.
And that’s where the market matters. Even if the Braves want to act boldly, they still have to look at the road in front of them. Getting past the Dodgers just to reach the World Series is no small hurdle.
Cano also pointed to the 2027 season being in lockout territory, which adds another layer to the discussion. Still, the Braves would likely expect some of the prospects who have broken through to be part of the big-league picture in future seasons.
That doesn’t mean Atlanta should sit on its hands. It does mean the front office has to be selective about which prospects leave and what kind of player comes back.
Cano is right that the Braves should capitalize on their strong start. The Dodgers are a force, but they’re not perfect.
Anthopoulos has never built his Atlanta reputation around reckless all-in gambles, even if he is usually among the more aggressive general managers at the deadline. A full-blown Skubal-style swing may not be the most likely outcome, but it’s fair to expect him to make moves that strengthen the roster for the stretch run.
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The outing still fits into the larger picture of patience, because this was about building back arm strength and rhythm rather than rushing toward a return. Atlanta can use every encouraging checkpoint it gets from a pitcher who was part of its future plans, especially with the rotation already thinned by elbow issues and the club watching every healthy arm closely. [Read more 🡒]