The Atlanta Braves have established themselves as one of baseball’s premier teams, opening the season in impressive fashion despite battling a number of injuries. Moving forward, their success will depend on maintaining that level of play and staying consistent throughout the year.
With the strong start Atlanta has put together, a trade deadline addition feels increasingly inevitable. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has already suggested that the Braves plan to be active in exploring opportunities to strengthen the roster.
“I fully expect and hope that we will be engaged in trades come July. I’m not trying to overly excite anybody or promise anything. But if we’re playing the way we are right now, we’re going to be in there,” Anthopoulos said.
The need for another starting pitcher has become even more urgent after Spencer Strider suffered an elbow injury that will sideline him for an extended period.
“The Braves announced that right-hander Spencer Strider has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his throwing elbow. Right-hander Anthony Molina was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding 26-man roster move. The placement comes a day after Strider was removed during the fourth inning of Friday’s 7-5 loss to the Mets,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Mark Polishuk wrote.
In a mock trade proposed by SI’s Mark Morales-Smith, the Braves acquire Sonny Gray from the Boston Red Sox.
“Atlanta Braves Receive: RHP – Sonny Gray. Boston Red Sox Receive: SS – Alex Lodise (Prospect), RHP – Lucas Braun (Prospect), RHP – Luke Sinnard (Prospect). The Braves’ starting pitchers have been destroyed by injuries this season. It’s incredible that they have done as well as they have so far this season. Still, they will have to improve on that group if they want to make a championship run, especially after placing Spencer Strider on the IL with an elbow injury,” Morales-Smith wrote.
With Atlanta appearing to have better options at shortstop in its minor league system, moving Alex Lodise would not be a bad decision. Acquiring another proven starter has become one of the organization’s biggest priorities and an urgent need.
Gray is playing on a $75 million contract, making him a relatively manageable financial addition for Atlanta. He also finished as a Cy Young Award runner-up just a few seasons ago, bringing both experience and proven production to the rotation. Once the Braves’ pitching staff returns to full health, adding Gray could give Atlanta one of the deepest collections of power arms in baseball.
