It still doesn't make a lot of sense, but Bryce Elder continues to defy expectations with the Atlanta Braves. He has been maddeningly inconsistent and his underlying metrics are pretty terrifying, but it is kind of hard to argue with his recent results. After shutting down the Cubs on Wednesday, Elder now has a 1.35 ERA across his last three starts with 20 innings pitched. No matter how to get to those numbers, that is big time production.
For some, this is a sign that the Braves' patience with Elder is finally paying off and they should give him a real chance to stick in the rotation in 2026. Given all of the injuries Atlanta is dealing with on their pitching staff, there is an argument for hoping that the good times with Elder continue.
Alternatively, and perhaps preferably, Elder's recent hot streak could actually make moving on from him easier because for the first time in a long time, he has real trade value.
Bryce Elder's late season surge could be extremely helpful to the Braves on the trade market
Look, we get it. Atlanta has had little to actually cheer for this year and the idea of trading away Elder who has been a bright spot of late may seem tough to stomach. However, one has to remember that while Elder has made some substantive improvements, he also has a history of regression and his profile is one that is ripe to go downhill in a hurry. Elder simply doesn't get enough swing and miss and his slider is really his only big league pitch. At some point (and perhaps soon), that isn't going to be enough unless there is a big change.
The Braves should be looking for a team willing to take that challenge on who also needs pitching help in the short-term. If Ha-Seong Kim ends up leaving (which is possible), maybe the Braves could include Elder in a trade for Jordan Lawlar with the Diamondbacks who are losing a number of pitchers after the season. With Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte around, Arizona should be motivated after all.
There have been good arguments all season long for the Braves to move on from Elder and give pitchers with more upside a chance. However, for the first time since his All-Star season, Elder may actually have the trade value to make shipping him out of town actually worth it for the front office.