With the trade deadline set for Monday, Aug. 3, the market is starting to take shape now that the amateur draft is behind everyone. The action hasn’t fully started yet, but the calls are already going in, and Saturday’s chatter centered on three names: Hunter Goodman, the Braves’ search for offense, and Luis García Jr.
The Yankees have already taken a look at Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, according to ESPN. New York and Colorado haven’t talked recently, but the interest is real.
That makes sense given how ugly the Yankees’ catching production has been this year. Their backstops rank 29th in batting average at .175 and on-base percentage at .250, dead last in slugging at .269, and 26th with 0.2 WAR.
Goodman, 26, would bring serious power. He leads all catchers with 27 home runs, and his split is eye-catching: 18 homers and a .964 OPS on the road compared with nine homers and a .729 OPS at Coors Field.
There are obvious warts, too. He doesn’t grade well defensively and strikes out at one of the highest rates in baseball.
Even so, he’d be a major upgrade for New York, and he’s under team control through 2029.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is looking at the other side of the ball - or at least that’s where the focus is right now. Despite all the pitching injuries, The Athletic reports the Braves are currently prioritizing offense.
Since June 1, the team has hit just .231/.298/.378, and there’s still room to add a bat even if Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from his hamstring strain during the current homestand. Shortstop and DH are two spots that could use help.
The pitching injury list is long: Martín Pérez is dealing with a forearm issue, Spencer Schwellenbach had elbow bone spur surgery, AJ Smith-Shawver is recovering from Tommy John surgery, Spencer Strider has elbow inflammation, and Robert Suarez is also out with elbow inflammation. The Braves expect those arms back in the coming weeks.
Atlanta has reinforcements coming on the mound. On offense, outside of Acuña, that same kind of help isn’t there.
Another name drawing attention is Nationals first baseman Luis García Jr. Multiple teams have asked about him, per The Athletic.
García, 26, moved from second base to first this season, and the bat has picked up in a big way lately. He has 20 home runs, with 15 of them coming in his last 33 games.
He’s a left-handed hitter who has been heavily platooned, and his defense isn’t a strength, but the extra year of control makes him especially interesting.
That control could matter for teams still chasing a postseason spot. The Diamondbacks and Padres stand out as clubs that could use help at first base, and García’s value would extend beyond this season. Even if Arizona or San Diego doesn’t get into the field this year, he could still be part of the picture in 2027.
In Other News...
Braves May Finally Have The Trade Match Fans Have Waited For
The Athletics are reportedly open for business on some of their outfielders, and the timing makes the idea worth watching from Atlantas side. Oaklands goal is straightforward enough, too: it wants young starting pitching in return, which is exactly the kind of currency the Braves have been able to stockpile while trying to patch a lineup that could still use more help in the outfield.
That overlap is what makes this feel more than just another deadline rumor. Atlanta has several young arms it could put into a deal, giving the front office a rare chance to turn pitching depth into a bat without stripping the roster bare, and the As willingness to listen keeps the door open. The question now is whether the Braves are ready to make that kind of move, and which arm they would be willing to part with if they do. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have Found A Rotation Fix With One Major Catch
The Braves are still hunting for starting pitching help, and the market is pointing them toward a familiar kind of target: a veteran arm with a track record of taking the ball and keeping a rotation steady. In that search, one possible fit stands out because of both his consistency and his reputation as a two-time All-Star, the kind of pitcher Atlanta could use if it wants more stability behind its top options.
The catch is that any conversation around him is likely to get complicated quickly. Recent pitcher trades with similar contract structures have already shown how hard it can be for clubs to line up on value, and that same issue could make negotiations between Atlanta and Kansas City tricky. If the Braves and Royals see the package differently, the talks could stall before they really get moving, which is why Atlanta may need to keep other rotation options in play. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Suddenly Got A More Encouraging Spencer Schwellenbach Update
The Braves got a more encouraging read on Spencer Schwellenbach after earlier skepticism around the injured pitching group, and that matters because every bit of rotation help feels significant with the season moving into its final stretch. Schwellenbachs rehab has continued in Florida, and the most recent update points toward him taking a meaningful next step soon, which at least keeps the door open for a late-season boost.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: if Schwellenbach can get through a rehab assignment and build back up without setbacks, he would give the club another arm to lean on behind Chris Sale. A September return is still the best-case path, so there is no reason to treat this as a sure thing yet, but the tone around Schwellenbach has shifted enough to make him one of the more interesting names to watch in the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]