The Braves are in a spot where standing still no longer feels like an option. Atlanta still owns a 3.5-game cushion over the Phillies in the NL East, but that lead has shrunk after a stretch in which the Braves have stumbled and Philadelphia has surged. If Atlanta wants to keep control of the division, it may need to make its move now.
That’s where Tarik Skubal comes in. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand pointed to Atlanta as a strong fit for the Tigers’ back-to-back Cy Young winner, and the case is pretty easy to see: the Braves need pitching, they can handle the money, and they have the kind of prospect capital that could get Detroit’s attention.
The biggest issue is the rotation. Feinsand wrote, "The rotation ranks third in the NL with a 3.85 ERA, but adding a frontline arm to pair with Chris Sale would help the Braves as they try to unseat the Dodgers as NL champs," and that lines up with the reality in Atlanta.
Spencer Strider is on the injured list, several other Braves pitchers are also out, and Bryce Elder has struggled lately. The need for another starter is obvious.
Skubal would fill that hole in a big way. He’s the best starter likely available, which is exactly why the price would be steep. Even so, the Braves are in a position to take on a deal like that.
Skubal won his arbitration hearing and will make $32 million for the 2026 season. Atlanta wouldn’t be on the hook for the full amount in a trade, but it would still be a meaningful salary to absorb in late July.
Feinsand noted that "Atlanta has the financial flexibility to take on salary - Tarik Skubal's $32 million, for example..." That matters, because plenty of contenders would have to think twice about a contract number like that.
The Braves wouldn’t.
They also have the kind of farm system pieces that could make a deal happen. Feinsand added that Atlanta has "... and the prospect capital to get a deal done," and that’s the other big reason the fit makes sense. Didier Fuentes, JR Ritchie, and Cam Caminiti are all names the Braves could put on the table, with any package likely built around one or more of those young pitchers.
None of that guarantees a trade, and it would cost plenty if Atlanta chose to push in. But if the Braves decide to chase a major upgrade before the deadline, Skubal checks every box: need, money, and trade chips. That’s why Atlanta should be right near the front of the line.
In Other News...
Yankees Suddenly Made Another Change As Tigers Keep Applying Pressure
The Yankees kept churning their bullpen mix Tuesday, sending right-hander Yerry De los Santos down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and bringing right-hander Yovanny Cruz back into the major league relief corps. It is another small but notable roster tweak for a club trying to steady itself while the Tigers continue to apply pressure in the standings, and it shows how quickly New York is willing to move pieces around as it searches for the right late-game answers.
Cruz is not a new face to the big leagues this season, and his calling card is obvious enough once he takes the mound. The right-hander brings the kind of fastball velocity that can change the tone of an inning in a hurry, which is why his return is worth watching even in a move that might otherwise look routine on paper. [Read more 🡒]
This Tigers Infielder Is Suddenly Back In Deadline Trade Buzz
The deadline chatter around Detroits infield has started to pick up again, and it comes at a time when the market is being shaped by contenders looking for a right-handed bat. Bostons recent five-game surge has kept it in the playoff picture despite a mediocre American League field, and the Red Sox have at least given themselves a reason to keep searching for upgrades as the rotation continues to pile up quality starts.
For the Tigers, the part that matters is how a players rest-of-season value gets weighed against everything else in July. A bat with versatility across the middle infield and a contract situation that can make him more appealing to buyers usually draws notice, and Detroit is the kind of club that has to listen when that kind of name comes back into the rumor mill, even if the health question still clouds the conversation. [Read more 🡒]