As the Braves drift toward October without their sharpest edge, the questions around this roster are getting louder. If Atlanta falls short in the playoffs, the offseason could force a hard reset on several familiar names - and Spencer Strider is already on the radar.
Mark Feinsand included Strider among his 11 most intriguing offseason trade candidates, and the reason is obvious: Atlanta has already explored moving him once. Feinsand reported that the Braves tried to send Strider to Texas in a contract swap for Jacob deGrom before the Trade Deadline, but deGrom used his no-trade clause to shut it down. Even so, Feinsand wrote, “it’s clear that Atlanta is open to moving its former ace,” pointing to Strider’s injury history and contract as the key reasons why.
Strider has been sidelined since mid-June with right elbow inflammation, and Feinsand noted that while a return this season is unlikely, there is “an outside chance he could be available out of the bullpen during the postseason.” His deal is a big part of the equation: he’s owed $22 million in each of the next two seasons, with a $22 million club option for 2029 and a $5 million buyout.
From the Braves’ perspective, the logic is simple. Strider hasn’t been the same pitcher for a while, and the gap between the old version and the current one is hard to ignore.
He had InternalBrace surgery in 2024 and has made just 31 starts since, posting a 4.66 ERA. The bigger concern, though, is what’s happened to his stuff.
His fastball velocity has fallen several ticks, and without that pitch at its old level, he’s no longer carrying the same kind of margin for error.
Atlanta could try to slide him into a bullpen role, at least in theory. Shorter outings might give him a better chance to stay healthy and maybe find some rhythm. But at $44 million over the next two seasons, that would be an awfully expensive reliever, especially if he’s not in line to close games.
That leaves the Braves with a familiar offseason problem: finding a team willing to buy into the idea that Strider can still get back to his previous form. If that market doesn’t exist, Atlanta may have to attach money, take a bad contract back, or simply wait it out. For now, that’s the most realistic path.
In Other News...
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Falcons QB Trouble Puts New Pressure On Michael Penix Jr. Return
Michael Penix Jr. still has not made his return from the ACL injury he suffered last November, and the Falcons have already chosen to keep him out beyond their season opener. For a team looking to settle its quarterback situation early, the delay only adds another layer of uncertainty, especially with the season already underway and the attention now shifting to when Penix might finally be available.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Falcons originally eyed Week 2 or 3 for Penixs return, though that window may have come too soon. Atlanta has not put him on short-term injured reserve, a sign the team still expects him back relatively soon, but there is still no official timeline. Until that becomes clearer, the Falcons are left managing the position without knowing exactly when their young quarterback will be ready to join the mix. [Read more 🡒]