The Atlanta Braves have sent right-hander Bryce Elder down to Triple-A, a move that was straightforward given the circumstances. At just 25 years old, Elder wasn’t pitching up to the team’s expectations, posting a 4.50 ERA.
With the Braves’ pitching staff improving as Spencer Strider is expected back soon, there’s limited space for Elder in the rotation. Still, even though his start to the season has been below expectations, Elder has shown at times that he may be too skilled for Triple-A.
Braves’ Bryce Elder Showed Promise for Two Seasons
In the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, the Texas native performed well, recording a 3.17 ERA in 2022 and a 3.81 ERA in 2023. While his 2023 performance w
asn’t outstanding, it was solid enough for the Braves to rely on him every fifth game. He even earned an All-Star selection that year, the first of his young career, after a strong first half.
Although things haven’t gone as smoothly since then, there’s still a chance a team might take a risk on him. It’s unclear which team that might be, but there’s good reason to believe some team would be interested in trading for a 25-year-old who’s been an All-Star and has experience pitching in high-pressure situations for one of MLB’s top clubs.
Braves Are Looking to Trade Bryce Elder
As the trade deadline approaches, the Atlanta Braves may be looking to part ways with Bryce Elder before his situation worsens. The team has indicated that moving Elder now makes sense since he no longer fits into their plans. There’s little room for him in either the bullpen or rotation unless another pitcher gets injured.
“Trading Bryce Elder is logical because he doesn’t fit as a reliever and has an uncertain track record. This is the best version of Elder the Braves have seen in over two years, but whether he can maintain it is still questionable. As a result, Elder is the most likely candidate to be moved out of the rotation.
“You can’t risk trading away the high potential of AJ Smith-Shawver, and Grant Holmes remains valuable due to his flexibility to return to the bullpen if needed. That leaves Bryce Elder as the odd man out with Spencer Strider’s return,” wrote Nick Halden of ATL All Day.
Braves Face Challenge in Trading Bryce Elder
The challenge, however, is that even with a healthy roster, the Atlanta Braves will probably need to add another starter by the trade deadline. When it comes to Elder, the team will want someone with a stronger arm than what he currently offers.
They might include Elder along with another player in a trade to acquire a more reliable starter, but that possibility is still uncertain.
The Braves have other areas to address as well, though it’s unlikely they’ll receive superstar talent in return for a fifth-round pick.
It will be interesting to see how things unfold, but there’s reason to believe Elder could be available. Ultimately, it will depend on what the Braves get in return, but if there’s no clear role for him to pitch, it makes little sense for either the team or Elder to keep him around.