MLB Rumors: Grading potential trade fits for Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox

MLB trade season is getting almost two months away, and here are trade fits for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.

With the regular season over one-quarter over already, it’s time to start looking ahead toward the MLB trade deadline.

There are a few teams that stand out as potential trade deadline sellers, none more so than the Oakland A’s, Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox. Each team has struggled, with the White Sox easily being the most disappointing of the bunch, and perhaps the most interesting trade deadline seller.

Let’s dive into some trade fits for three teams: the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.

Atlanta Braves trade fit: Mike Clevinger

The Atlanta Braves are missing Max Fried and Kyle Wright, two pillars in their rotation, for at least the next two months. So it’s highly likely that Alex Anthopoulos goes hunting for rotation help in July.

Chicago White Sox starter Mike Clevinger is a player that the Braves have had past interest in, once trying to trade for him when he was with the Cleveland Guardians. It’s unclear if the Braves maintain interest in Clevinger, but it’s a natural fit.

Acquiring Clevinger, 32, would not require the Braves to break the bank in terms of prospects or money, as he’s on an expiring one-year, $12 million contract. But a Clevinger-to-Atlanta scenario could be unlikely considering the Braves’ need for an impact starter and that the right-hander’s current 4.79 ERA would be his worst since 2016.

I think it has a chance, especially if the Braves target multiple starters in July. I just don’t think it’s all too likely.

Grading the fit: 6.5/10