The Braves had a path into the Tarik Skubal chase with the Tigers, but one key piece kept it from getting done.
According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, Atlanta was not willing to include Didier Fuentes in discussions for the left-hander. Fuentes has turned in a 2.45 ERA over 73 1/3 innings and has a 3.86 ERA this postseason. In the Braves’ only win in the NLDS, he covered 3 2/3 innings and allowed just one run, with Max Muncy’s homer coming down to Los Angeles’ final strike.
That missing piece matters because Fuentes was the sort of bullpen arm Detroit could have used right away. He looks like a controllable reliever with closer upside, and a deal built around him would have given the Tigers help now and long-term value later.
The Braves were not alone in circling Skubal. The Brewers were also rumored to be in the mix, and Tarik Skubal will now start Game 1 of the NLCS against Jacob Misiorowski and Milwaukee. Atlanta had already watched the Dodgers eliminate them in the NLDS, and Los Angeles had been the club willing to meet the price.
Detroit clearly liked the Dodgers’ offer. Scott Harris was said to be seeking a massive return, and only Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers were prepared to pay that kind of premium for a rental. Los Angeles sent starter River Ryan and outfielder Zyhir Hope, with Brady Smith still an open question.
Fuentes was part of a Braves-Tigers trade proposal for Skubal alongside starter JR Ritchie and outfield prospect Patrick Clohisy. In the shape of that deal, the Tigers would have landed a controllable starter, a controllable late-inning arm, and a controllable outfielder.
Instead, Atlanta held back. And now the Braves and Brewers are left to wonder whether they should have pushed harder on a rental that’s already paying off for the Dodgers.
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