The Atlanta Braves will return from the All-Star break on Friday night looking to build on a 55-40 first-half record. Despite facing some recent adversity, Atlanta remains firmly in the mix for a postseason berth.
With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, the Braves are expected to be one of the more aggressive teams in the market. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has already suggested that the organization intends to explore opportunities and make moves if the right ones become available.
“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.
If Atlanta does take an aggressive approach, the focus will shift toward identifying which players could fit into their plans. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa believes the Braves could become a leading candidate to acquire Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
“This bold prediction says that, despite their recent hot streak, the Tigers will indeed trade Skubal at the deadline. It won’t be an easy choice for the front office and the fan base will be upset, but it is likely to be the ruthlessly correct baseball decision. Where will Skubal wind up? My guess is with the Braves, though I hardly think that’s a lock. The bidding war will be intense,” Axisa wrote.
Atlanta’s emergence as a possible destination for Skubal is notable because the Braves were not originally considered among the top contenders to land the star left-hander.
“Now that it’s becoming inevitable that the free-falling Detroit Tigers may have no choice but to trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the deadline, rival executives believe the bidding will come down to four finalists that not only can afford the remainder of his $32 million contract, but will also be willing to give up prized prospects: The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote.
A deal for Skubal would completely reshape the Braves’ outlook for the remainder of the season. Bringing in a two-time Cy Young Award winner to anchor the rotation would give Atlanta another elite arm and potentially turn them from a playoff hopeful into a serious contender capable of challenging the Dodgers for National League supremacy.
However, landing Skubal would require a massive trade package, meaning the Braves would have to decide how much of their future they are willing to sacrifice. If Atlanta can make the deal happen, acquiring one of baseball’s premier pitchers would represent a franchise-changing move and potentially become one of the most significant trades of the year.