With the Aug. 3 trade deadline now just two weeks away, the market is starting to take shape, and two teams already stand out in very different ways. The Braves are hunting for help that can push them deeper into October, while the Athletics look like a club ready to turn surplus into future arms.
Atlanta’s position is clear enough. The Braves have been sitting in first place in the National League East, but the path there has been rough since the start of June.
A sub-.500 stretch and injuries across the pitching staff have complicated what looked like a strong season early on. Even so, the front office sounds intent on adding, not standing still.
Alex Anthopoulos laid out the approach during an appearance on MLB Network Radio, and he didn’t leave much room for doubt about the kind of arm Atlanta wants.
"As much as we all like to say, 'I need to get this, I need to get that,' sometimes you just have to take what might be available to you. I think it's been pretty obvious, if there's a playoff-caliber starter out there, we would jump at that. If there's a reliever [out there], we would jump at that."
That kind of language tells you where the Braves are focused. They want pitching, and they want it from the top shelf if possible.
The problem, as always at this point on the calendar, is supply. The pool of true sellers may not be deep, and if the Tigers decide to keep ace Tarik Skubal because of the American League wild-card race, that removes one of the biggest names from the board.
If Skubal stays put, the next tier of arms could still include Mets starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes, along with Giants starter Robbie Ray. However the market settles, Atlanta looks positioned to be one of the busiest buyers before the deadline hits.
Out in Oakland, the direction is almost the opposite. The A’s have already made a clear signal that they’re open for business after sending veteran right-hander Aaron Civale to the Cubs. Now the focus may shift to their outfield depth, which could be used to bring back the young pitching they need.
MLB Network reported that teams have begun calling on the A’s outfielders, and there’s no shortage of names that could draw interest. Lawrence Butler and Tyler Soderstrom are among the players contenders may have their eye on if they’re looking for help in the outfield.
The exact names Oakland would be willing to move remain uncertain, but the direction is obvious: the A’s have pieces other clubs want, and they may use that to keep building toward the future.
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 🡒]