The trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and the Atlanta Braves have quite the list of needs. President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos has routinely said he will seek any avenue that he feels can make the team better, and the current Atlanta roster grants him that opportunity.
It's hard to compile a perfect trade deadline, and the Braves have needs that vary in importance. Let's take a look at what areas Anthopoulos could seek to improve the team, and what moves are more wishful thinking than realistic outcomes.
Everything the Braves could (and probably should) add at the 2026 trade deadline
True No. 2 starting pitcher
Staff ace Chris Sale keeps churning out impressive starts, but aside from Atlanta's top guy, the rotation has been the most inconsistent part of the team. If the postseason started tomorrow, the Braves would be forced to roll with Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, or Martin Perez as their game two starter. None of those options would scare the opposing lineup, making this move a top-of-the-list priority for Alex Anthopoulos.
Trading for quality starting pitchers never comes cheap, and the presumed names on the market this year would absolutely cut into Atlanta's improved farm system. Tarik Skubal, Reid Detmers, Joe Ryan, Hunter Greene, and many more are names to watch out for this week, as Atlanta has often been tied to any rumors surrounding these talented arms.
DH upgrade/Impact bat (preferrably left-handed)
Dominic Smith's incredible start to the season bought him some time, but the last couple of months are proof the Braves need another quality bat. The DH spot for Atlanta was always going to eventually be a problem once the Jurickson Profar suspension was announced, and stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin missing time have made this problem more glaring.
Platoon partner for Mike Yastrzemski
Adding multiple bats is not the worst idea, and if you can find the right-handed version of Mike Yastrzemski that could really lengthen Atlanta's lineup. Additionally, this type of platoon outfielder generally does not require significant prospect cost, which is a bonus.
Veterans like Lane Thomas, Jo Adell, and Spencer Steer each matchup well against left-handed pitching, and trading for any of them would give Walt Weiss a lot more buttons to push late in games.
Innings-eater starting pitcher
Atlanta's rotation has been a lot of quantity over quality in 2026, but that doesn't mean another reliable innings-eater would be a disservice to the team. Oftentimes, it is a struggle for Atlanta to get five innings from their starter, and if this pace keeps up, the bullpen may not have any gas left come October.
One more trustworthy reliever for October
Adding to a strength of the team is what forward-thinking GMs do. Alex Anthopoulos has mentioned before that today's needs are not necessarily tomorrow's needs, and the Braves' bullpen seems to fit this statement. Raisel Iglesias, Dylan Lee, and Didier Fuentes are the relievers in the circle of trust for postseason play, and Robert Suarez exists in that group if he is healthy.
However, should any of those four miss October baseball for any reason, the bullpen could do with another reinforcement. Adding another bullpen arm should not be the first thing Alex Anthopoulos is looking to do, but it is an area worth monitoring should the trade market develop to Anthopoulos' liking.
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