The Braves came out of the deadline with more questions than answers, and the biggest one sat right at the top of the rotation.
Atlanta is in position to chase the National League East title and a first-round bye, but the club’s deadline approach left plenty of fans wanting more. While other contenders made aggressive upgrades, the Braves mostly settled for smaller depth moves. The one swing that could have changed the whole picture was a run at Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom.
That deal never got across the finish line because deGrom declined to waive his no-trade clause for Atlanta, even though the two sides had already worked out an agreement, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Braves manager Walt Weiss addressed the decision bluntly.
“It’s a little surprising at first,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (of deGrom turning down the trade). “But that’s a personal decision for a player."
DeGrom’s refusal matters because Atlanta was trying to add a true second headliner behind left-hander Chris Sale. The Braves have not had that dominant No. 2 arm, and the market offered options.
Still, Alex Anthopoulos was unwilling to pay just any price, consistent with his usual caution around the farm system. In this case, though, he was prepared to move talent for a pitcher with a decorated résumé.
DeGrom is a five-time All-Star and a two-time Cy Young Award winner, the kind of arm that can change a staff in a hurry. This season, he has a 3.87 ERA in 22 appearances, and while the run prevention has not been at his peak level, the strikeout stuff is still very much there. He has 144 punchouts in 118 2/3 innings.
Without him, the Braves are left to lean on Sale and hope the rest of the rotation holds up. That’s the bet now, and it’s the one that will shape how far Atlanta can go in October.
In Other News...
Braves Could Push For A Star Shortstop Rival Fans Would Hate
The Braves are already being connected to one of the more intriguing offseason questions on the market, and shortstop sits near the center of it. Atlanta has a chance to look for an upgrade there, and the kind of player who could move the needle is the sort who usually costs real prospect capital and then some. In division deals have never been the norm, but they have become more common lately, which is why this conversation has at least some traction.
One name hovering around that search is a young shortstop who could become available if his current club cannot lock him up long term. For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: a chance to target a player with upside at a position of need, even if doing so would mean dealing with a rival and putting together a package strong enough to make them listen. It is the kind of possibility that can reshape the rest of the winter if the Braves decide to press hard enough. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Injured Starters Are Progressing But One Return Loos Large
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Reynaldo Lopez may be the most immediate name to watch, which matters for a staff that has spent too much time piecing things together. He is recovering from knee inflammation and appears closest to coming back, with the Braves also considering using him out of the bullpen instead of sending him straight back into the starting rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Reynaldo Lpez Could Force A Braves Pitching Decision That Changes Everything
The Braves are entering the kind of pitching puzzle teams usually hope to have in September, when injured arms start filtering back and the staff begins to take shape for October. Reynaldo Lpez is right in the middle of it after a recent bullpen session, and Atlanta is weighing how best to use him as the rotation picture gets more crowded with pitchers returning and the postseason roster coming into focus.
Lpez remains a name to watch because the Braves still have to decide whether his next value comes from starting games or helping out of the bullpen, and that choice could ripple through the rest of the staff. AJ Smith-Shawver has also reinserted himself into the conversation after a strong rehab outing with Gwinnett, while Spencer Schwellenbach is another piece the Braves are evaluating as they try to sort out who fits where when the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]