The Braves are in a strong spot atop the NL East, but that hasn’t stopped them from looking for a way to raise the ceiling even higher before the trade deadline. If Atlanta wants to lock in its place at the top of the division and make a real push for a bye and a World Series run, the starting rotation is the obvious place to hunt for help.
That hunt could lead straight to Tarik Skubal.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Braves are expected to inquire with the Tigers about the two-time Cy Young winner, who is being viewed as a potential blockbuster trade target for the 2026 MLB trade deadline. Rosenthal said, "The Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers are among the clubs expected to inquire on Skubal, the reigning AL back-to-back Cy Young winner,"
For Atlanta, this would be a very different kind of deadline swing than the usual search for a mid-tier arm. Skubal is not a rental starter to patch a hole. He’s the kind of pitcher who changes the shape of a rotation.
The numbers explain why. Skubal has a 2.70 ERA this season with 3.0 bWAR in 15 starts, along with 110 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched. His 0.922 WHIP and 2.68 FIP rank among the best marks in baseball for starters this year.
Among the teams mentioned, Atlanta looks like one of the cleanest fits. The Dodgers could be the biggest obstacle, though they may decide they don’t need Skubal to chase a third straight title and would rather keep their prospects. The Yankees don’t appear to have the same level of rotation need, while the Rays and Brewers may be hesitant to pay the kind of prospect price it would take to get a deal done.
The Braves, though, have the pieces to make a real run at it. They have prospect capital, financial flexibility, a clear need, and the appetite for a move this big.
There’s still no certainty Skubal gets dealt, and even less that he lands in Atlanta. But as the deadline approaches and the Tigers continue to struggle, the expectation is that the calls will keep coming. Alex Anthopoulos is in position to chase one of the biggest prizes on the market.
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