The Braves know where the problem is, and it sits right in the middle of the rotation.
Atlanta has stayed on top of the NL East even after a rough June, and the club looks to be finding its footing again after taking its series against the Pittsburgh Pirates - its first series win since June. That matters, because the deadline is coming fast and the Braves are expected to be right in the middle of the action.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos didn’t exactly hide that possibility last month.
“I fully expect and hope that we will be engaged in trades come July. I'm not trying to overly excite anybody or promise anything. But if we're playing the way we are right now, we're going to be in there,” Anthopoulos said.
The need is obvious: pitching, and probably starting pitching in particular. Atlanta could use one starter, maybe even two, because outside of Chris Sale, the rotation has been too uneven to trust.
“The Atlanta Braves find themselves in desperate need of stability in their starting rotation. What started as a strength has quickly devolved into a glaring weakness.
GM Alex Anthopoulos has some serious work to do at the trade deadline to get things back on track. Chris Sale is the only truly dependable arm in the rotation at the moment.
Everyone else has been average at best,” HTHB’s Steven Teal wrote.
One name that keeps surfacing is Sonny Gray, and it’s not hard to see why. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan described the veteran right-hander’s mix this way:
“Gray, somewhat uniquely, throws a cutter-shaped fastball as his primary pitch, and it moves more toward lefties than righties. His sinker and slider both work off of tunneling with that primary cut-fastball, while his sweeper, curveball and changeup move even more off of that starting point. He always has limited walks with above-average control and command, but his deep arsenal, somewhat unique movement profile and four distinct pitches that cut away from righties give Gray lots of ways to beat you, even as his fastball velocity tails off later in his career,” ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan wrote.
Gray has been tied to Atlanta in trade chatter before, including last season, but this could be the year it actually happens. He’s a three-time All-Star and once finished as the Cy Young Award runner-up, and he’s currently playing on a $75 million contract.
For the Braves, that kind of arm would bring another proven veteran into the mix with Sale and give the rotation a much steadier look heading toward October. If Atlanta misses on Tarik Skubal, Gray could move up and become one of the club’s leading fallback options.
In Other News...
Braves Rotation Search Just Took A Very Familiar Turn
The Braves search for rotation help has taken a familiar turn, with the latest chatter pointing back to a veteran arm whose name has been tied to contenders before. Atlanta is still looking for ways to stabilize the starting staff, and the broader market may not offer many easy answers if clubs around the league decide to hold onto their pitching.
Sonny Grays situation adds an extra layer to the discussion because he controls where any deal would go, which matters for a team trying to work through a thin starter market. Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon also noted that Kansas City appears unlikely to move Michael Wacha or Seth Lugo, and they floated Tarik Skubal as a possible Braves fit as well, though that part of the conversation remains more speculation than anything concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Suddenly Linked To A Massive Outfield Upgrade Before Deadline
After a rough July, the Braves are heading into the deadline with momentum and a front office that sounds ready to shop. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has made clear Atlanta expects to be active in the market, with pitching still viewed as the top priority as the club tries to position itself for a stronger finish.
There is also at least some curiosity about adding a bat, which is where the outfield conversation starts to get interesting. Atlanta could look for an impact player who changes the look of the lineup and the defense, but any serious pursuit would have to fit a big contract and a complicated trade setup, leaving the Braves with plenty to sort through before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Braves First Round Track Record Is Suddenly Worth A Hard Look
For a club that has spent years trying to keep its pipeline stocked without losing sight of the big-league roster, Atlantas recent first-round haul suddenly looks like a group worth revisiting. The Braves last five first-round picks are all still in the system, and each one is at a different stage of development, from pitchers working back from injuries to a position player climbing quickly through the lower minors.
Owen Murphy and JR Ritchie have already given the organization reasons to believe the draft strategy is paying off, even if neither has fully removed the uncertainty that comes with young arms. Hurston Waldrep, Cam Caminiti and Tate Southisene add more layers to the picture, with each carrying some mix of upside, growing pains and unfinished business that keeps Atlantas draft record from feeling settled just yet. [Read more 🡒]