Braves: 3 pitchers to trade for after Mike Soroka’s latest setback
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Braves could make a deal to offset losing Mike Soroka for yet another season.
With Mike Soroka re-tearing his right Achilles tendon, the Atlanta Braves may now be in the market for a starting pitcher to some degree.
Though Braves Country knows the only sliver of hope for this underperforming team to get back into the postseason is to see a complete overhaul of its lousy bullpen, perhaps adding an arm to the rotation ahead of the second half of the year could help, too? At this point, the Braves will have to roll the dice and make a few deals if they want to win the NL East for the fourth year in a row.
Here are three pitchers Atlanta could look to trade for now that Soroka is lost for another season.
Atlanta Braves: 3 pitchers to trade for with Mike Soroka’s season being over
Michael Pineda. 3. Pick Analysis. RHP. Minnesota Twins. player. 2. Scouting Report
Michael Pineda would give the back-end of the Atlanta rotation some bite
If Atlanta wants to find a pitcher to help offset losing Soroka for a second straight season, the Braves front office must look at teams who are probably more out of it than they are. One of those teams is the Minnesota Twins, who have underperformed more than the Braves have this year. Though he is on the IL now, the player to look at acquiring is right-handed starter Michael Pineda.
This is a contract year for the Dominican right-hander. Pineda will be entering free agency ahead of his his age-33 season next year. While he has a sub-.500 record on the season, his ERA is below 4.00 and he has been a cornerstone in the Twins rotation for the last three years. Given that he has only pitched in the American League before, this could be a boon to him coming to Atlanta.
While he is not the innings eater of other pitchers potentially on the trading block, Pineda has developed his craft on the mound in his late 20s and early 30s. Having a pitcher who can toe the rubber every fifth day and can give you a quality start will be one way to take stress off an otherwise miserable bullpen. Pineda will only be a rental, but he should be available in late July.
Pineda may have ample experience, but the Braves may want to look at adding a younger pitcher.