The Atlanta Braves find themselves in desperate need of stability in their starting rotation. What started as a strength has quickly devolved into a glaring weakness. GM Alex Anthopoulos has some serious work to do at the trade deadline to get things back on track. Chris Sale is the only truly dependable arm in the rotation at the moment. Everyone else has been average at best.
Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver will hopefully return in September. But until then, there is a massive need for another consistent force on the mound every fifth day. Rumors are beginning to swirl around the deadline, and a familiar face is once again being linked as a fit for the Braves.
Atlanta has been rumored to have an interest in Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray to fill their need for starting pitching. This rumor has been reported by The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon.
Braves have expressed interest in trading for Sonny Gray, but so has basically everyone else
Gray is the exact kind of pitcher the team needs, with his impressive 2.61 ERA, 23 walks, and 82 strikeouts over 89.2 innings pitched. His excellent chase, walk, and groundball percentages are contributing to that success.
It's a perfect choice for the Braves, outside of a couple of caveats. Gray would be a rental unless he and the Braves agreed to pick up his mutual $30 million option for 2027. Not only that, but Gray is also a target for several contenders that need rotation help. Gray would be a massive help to the rotation, especially with the team leading the NL East at the moment. He would have to waive his full no-trade clause to make this happen, and maybe the prospect of playing a little closer to home would help take care of that problem.
Similar to trading for Tarik Skubal, this is a big ask for the Braves. They'd have to give up a lot of talent for a few months of a playoff-caliber arm. Unfortunately, that's a risk AA may have to take for once in his time with the Braves.
There's the other issue that the Red Sox are in a spot to contend for the postseason right now. They won't win the AL East, but Boston is only 2.5 games back of the Wild Card spot. The team may bet on themselves at the deadline and hold on to Gray if the right deal doesn't present itself.
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