Braves rumors: 3 rental pitchers Atlanta should trade for at the deadline
By Mark Powell
Braves Rumors: Trade for White Sox starter Mike Clevinger
The point of any rental trade is that it should be low-cost. The Chicago White Sox have other potential deals on their mind, including potentially Lucas Giolito and more. Mike Clevinger, at the back end of their rotation, had some off-field issues this offseason (since cleared up, we think), and has pitched well enough to earn a spot on the back end of pretty much any contender’s rotation.
Enter the Braves, who need just that. FanSided’s Robert Murray pitched Clevinger as a likely trade target this summer:
"“On the surface, Clevinger’s numbers — 4.79 ERA and 35/18 strikeout-to-walk ratio — aren’t that impressive. But he has allowed three or less runs in five of his eight starts, with his ERA inflated by a six-run appearance against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 25. He may not fetch much in a trade, especially being on a contract year, but could help a contender in need of rotation depth.”"
Clevinger isn’t the pitcher we thought he was with the Cleveland Guardians and then San Diego Padres, at least not right now. But he can still bring value to a Braves rotation that — behind Charlie Morton, Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder — doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table at the moment.
While he has a mutual option at the end of this season, Clevinger will likely test the free-agent market if he has any sort of success.