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...
Phillies Already Have One Big Reason To Feel Better About Bowlan Trade
The Phillies knew they were buying some upside when they swapped Matt Strahm to Kansas City for Jonathan Bowlan over the offseason, but the early returns have given them reason to like the move a little more. Strahms season has gone off the rails, with his ERA climbing while his velocity has backed up, and his recent knee surgery only adds to the sense that Philadelphia moved on at the right time.
Bowlan, meanwhile, has given the Phillies something they can actually use in the bullpen. He has shown improvement and, for much of the year, worked as an effective reliever even with a few recent rough patches mixed in. For a team that always needs reliable innings in relief, getting a useful arm back in that deal already looks like a meaningful win. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Prospect Aidan Miller Suddenly Has A New Development Twist
Aidan Millers fall schedule took an unexpected turn, because the Phillies originally left the infield prospect off their Arizona Fall League roster before he later confirmed he will head there after finishing the Double-A postseason with Reading. Miller missed most of the 2026 season with a back injury, so every step in his return has carried a little more weight than usual, and the organization has been careful in watching both his health and his progression.
Readings playoff run now gives Miller a different kind of test first. He is set to start at third base for the Fightin Phils, his first minor league start at the position, which adds another layer to a comeback already being closely tracked by the Phillies. For a player trying to regain momentum after so much time away, the timing matters almost as much as the position change. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Are Emerging As The NL Team Nobody Wants In October
The Phillies have spent the late summer looking like a team built for October, with a starting rotation that can stack up against anyone in the National League. Cristopher Snchez, Jesus Luzardo and Zack Wheeler give Philadelphia the kind of front-end pitching that travels well in the postseason, and the lineup has been steady enough to make the whole package feel dangerous rather than merely competitive.
One American League executive already flagged the Phillies as a real threat once the bracket is set, pointing specifically to how their pitching and offense can pressure a contender like the Brewers. With a postseason spot expected and a Wild Card path likely, Philadelphia has also shown the kind of improvement under Don Mattingly that can matter when the games tighten up, which is exactly why nobody wants to run into this club in October. [Read more 🡒]