The trade deadline is just a few days away, and it feels like the calm before the storm when it comes to the Atlanta Braves. As is customary, it has been mostly radio silence out of Alex Anthopoulos as to his intentions, other than a couple of interviews where he spent most of the time saying a lot about nothing at all. However, with the whispers that the Braves could be in on a Tarik Skubal trade, there is a sense that this could be the trade deadline where Atlanta tries to get wild.
However, current and future Braves are not the only ones connected to the organization that will be moved at the deadline. Several former Braves players are very likely to get traded at the deadline, including at least one of the better starting pitchers on the trade market.
Here are the former Braves players that are likely to get traded at this year's deadline
The focus here is on current MLB players that used to play for the Braves, so the true Braves diehards out there may be disappointed when there isn't a list of former Braves players and prospects that are currently in the minors. Also, Shea Langeliers almost certainly would have made this list, but he recently suffered a meniscus injury and is out for the season, which obviously makes trading him at the deadline less likely. It's possible he still gets moved, but the odds are way down.
Kevin Gausman
Kevin Gausman was one of the jewels of the Braves' 2018 trade deadline, and he pitched pretty well for Atlanta the rest of that season with a 2.87 ERA in 10 starts. Unfortunately, the 2019 season did not go nearly as well, and the Braves ultimately designated Gausman for assignment in a move that haunts them to this day, as Gausman went on to be a Cy Young contender a couple of years later.
Now with the Blue Jays and in the twilight of his career, Gausman is among the better starters that are likely to be available at the trade deadline. A Braves reunion isn't completely out of the question, but Toronto is extremely likely to send Gausman elsewhere at the deadline.
AJ Minter
Braves fans don't need any introductions with AJ Minter. Minter was a critical piece of Atlanta's bullpen for years, including during their 2021 World Series run as one of the members of the Night Shift. If he hadn't hurt his hip, the odds are very good that he would still be with the Braves right now.
Minter ended up signing with the Mets, where he continued to deal with injuries and made the Braves' decision to move on look wise. However, Minter has looked great this season, and with New York's season in the toilet, the veteran reliever will likely have a new team after the trade deadline. If it weren't for the "in-division trade tax", a reunion between the Braves and Minter would make a ton of sense.
Enyel De Los Santos
Enyel De Los Santos' tenure with the Braves was short, with just half a season (43 appearances) back in 2025. Ultimately, his 4.53 ERA was deemed expendable, and De Los Santos was DFA'd at the trade deadline to allow the Braves to acquire Tyler Kinley from the Rockies.
De Los Santos ended up landing with the Astros after leaving Atlanta, and he has been a solid, if unexciting, middle reliever for them this year. It sounds like Houston will be buyers at the trade deadline, but De Los Santos still fits as a trade chip if the Astros employ a hybrid buying and selling approach, or if a team is looking for immediate bullpen help as a small part of a larger trade.
Kenley Jansen
The Braves did not get future Hall of Famer (probably) Kenley Jansen in his prime, but he was still pretty good in his one season with Atlanta in 2022. In 65 appearances with the Braves, Jansen posted a 3.38 ERA across 64 innings of work, where he had 85 strikeouts against just 22 walks. There were certainly some adventurous appearances mixed in there, but Jansen mostly did his job as Atlanta's closer.
Jansen has hopped around the league on short-term deals since leaving the Braves and is currently employed by the Tigers, where his slow career decline has continued. Detroit is trending towards being sellers at the deadline, but trading the almost 39-year-old Jansen is probably a good idea regardless of the Tigers' intentions the rest of the season.
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