The Atlanta Braves have run into a bit of adversity lately. Atlanta just lost two series in a row, while losing two players to injury in the process. First, it was Ronald Acuna Jr. hitting the injured list with a hamstring issue. Next, it was Spencer Strider going down with right elbow inflammation. That's not what any team wants to go through, especially a first-place team.
Acuna Jr. will come back eventually, and the offense has handled things fairly well without him. However, Strider's injury really forces the team to weigh their options. There's no telling how long he could be out.
JR Ritchie could easily cover his spot in the rotation, but Atlanta should consider looking to the trade market to get a pitcher with a bit more experience. Let's take a look at a few potential rotation targets Atlanta could consider at the trade deadline.
Here are 4 rotation trade targets for the Braves that could actually fill their needs
Michael Wacha
Wacha isn't the flashiest option on the list, but he has performed really well for the Royals this season. The righty has a 3.58 ERA over 14 starts (88 IP), with 27 walks and 69 strikeouts. He comes with one year of control and a club option for 2028 worth $14 million. Wacha may not be the best pitcher on this list, but he would give the Braves plenty of innings, and they could use that.
Tarik Skubal
Skubal would be the most unlikely of acquisitions for the Braves due to his exorbitant cost. However, ESPN's Jeff Passan thinks the Braves need to swing big. He is the kind of caliber starter that the Braves crave to have in the rotation. Having both he and Chris Sale in the same rotation is a dream. Atlanta has plenty of talented prospect capital to go after Skubal, but is that cost worth it?
Skubal just returned from injury on June 13 with loose bodies in his elbow. His ERA is still impressive at 2.81 over 48 innings, with seven walks and 49 strikeouts. The other issue to consider is that he would be an extremely expensive rental. The southpaw is owed $32 million this year, and hits the free agent market at seasons end.
If the team can find a way to extend him, that makes it easier to do. However, with the potential for a massive pay day, and AA's hesitance to hand out huge contracts to starters, it isn't promising.
Robbie Ray
Ray is in the final year of his 5-year, $115 million contract. It's not been a very impressive season for the lefty with a 4.42 ERA over 14 starts (73 innings), including 36 walks and 66 strikeouts. He has great offspeed run value, but the rest of his metrics are not very impressive. He's far from the 2021 Cy Young winner he used to be, but he has experience and could be an innings eater.
Sonny Gray
I can hear it now, "The Braves are always linked to this guy and nothing happens!" That's a valid critique, but Gray continues to be one of the best trade targets for Atlanta. Boston's right-hander has a 3.03 ERA over 62 innings with 16 walks and 51 strikeouts.
Gray is in the final year of a three-year, $75 million deal and has a 2027 mutual option worth $30 million. He would be a solid middle-of-the-rotation option for the Braves in the playoffs. This could be the year the rumors finally become true.
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