The longer the 2025 season goes on, it seems like it is becoming more and more likely that the Atlanta Braves may be cooked this season. Sure, some still think they could turn things around, but we probably would have seen signs of that turnaround by now instead of the crummy baseball we are seeing at the moment. At this point, the Braves look like a team that should sell at the trade deadline as much as Alex Anthopoulos may not want to admit it this early.
Unless the Braves go on a historic losing streak which they could be working on right now , the odds of that happening are small. Atlanta wants to contend for a playoff spot to the bitter end and if the front office waves the white flag, players and fans alike are going to be upset. That doesn't mean being sellers at the deadline isn't the best path forward, however.
Here are the Braves players the team should strongly consider trading at the deadline, but won't
Trading away players that could help the Braves in future seasons would be crazy regardless of the team's record at the trade deadline. However, the Braves do have some players that they are probably going to stubbornly hang on to, but who should be on the table in trade talks this summer.
Raisel Iglesias
Iglesias' struggles this season have been well-chronicled here and elsewhere and he once again gave up the winning run against Arizona on Wednesday. It honestly may not matter if Atlanta is in the hunt or not at this point as Iglesias hasn't been reliable and is in the last year of his rather pricey contract. Atlanta loves him still and will likely hang on to him just in case he turns things around and the Braves get going, but sending him to a contender that thinks they can fix him would probably be the safer play.
Alex Verdugo
Verdugo was a fun story while he lasted, but he has already faded in recent weeks after that hot start. Part of the issue with Verdugo is that Jurickson Profar is going to be coming back before too long and other teams could be very intrigued by Verdugo given his cheap, one year deal. The Braves will probably still keep him as Profar and Ronald Acuña Jr. insurance and would accept him rotting on the bench, but moving him to a team desperate for outfield help could yield a surprisingly decent return.
Marcell Ozuna
This one is particularly tough. Ozuna has come back from multiple off the field controversies and a dreadful couple of years to morph back into one of the Braves' best hitters. However, Ozuna is also in the last year of contract and is probably going to be hampered through the end of the season as he is currently playing through a tear in his hip.
Still, where is the harm in trading Ozuna during a lost season and then circling back to him when he hits free agency? Again, it won't happen unless the Braves are the Rockies for the next month, but moving Ozuna to save some cash and getting a couple prospects back wouldn't necessarily mean goodbye forever.