Braves Rumors: 4 trade targets to address 3 biggest needs

Braves Trade Targets: Starting Pitchers

4. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox

My expectation is that the Lucas Giolito market will be one of the hottest at the MLB Trade Deadline this year. The 28-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the White Sox and could be a completely worthy No. 2 or No. 3 option for any contender, the Braves included. And that’s why Atlanta needs to be sniffing around his market.

Giolito has been a stalwart on a bad team this season, posting a 3.41 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 16 starts on the year. He’s proven that he can be a reliable spot in the rotation and, for the Braves, if the price is right, there is no reason they shouldn’t be involved in the potential sweepstakes brewing for the righty.

3. Michael Lorenzen, Detroit Tigers

Michael Lorenzen is a much more budget-friendly option for the Braves on the trade market than a guy like Giolito or another player who we’ll talk about shortly. He’s 31 years old on a one-year deal in Detroit but, as the Tigers potentially sell high on Eduardo Rodriguez, Lorenzen is the value-bin option that could be perfect for what Atlanta needs in the middle of the rotation.

Over 13 starts, Lorenzen has posted a 3.97 ERA and 1.16 WHIP for Detroit this season. He’s not perfect by any means but, putting him on the bump with the protection of the Braves lineup behind him could be exactly what the club needs. He’s pitched well enough to consistently get wins if his team is producing runs and the price on the trade market makes complete sense for Atlanta as well.

2. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies

Kyle Freeland would be a sneaky expensive option for the Braves to target in a trade after the Rockies just recently signed him to a five-year, $64.5 million extension that has him under full control until 2027 when there is a vested option. Having said that, at 30 years old, he might present the biggest potential return for Colorado.

That’s a risky proposition for Atlanta, to be sure, because they would have to give up more assets than normal. Having said that, Freeland, even pitching his home games at Coors for his entire career, has a career 4.29 ERA and 1.41 WHIP and has just one season with an ERA over 4.55 over seven years at the major-league level. Putting him behind Fried and Strider in the Braves rotation could be exactly what the doctor ordered to sort out the pitching staff for the rest of 2023 and, more importantly, moving forward.

1. Jack Flaherty or Jordan Montgomery, St. Louis Cardinals

Like Hicks as a target to help with the bullpen, the Cardinals also have two starters on expiring contracts who could bring back a nice return for St. Louis to better set them up for the future after this dismal season for the franchise: Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery.

Montgomery, who is sporting a solid 3.69 ERA and 1.29 WHIP this season, is likely the more expensive of the two options. Having said that, the possibility of adding another lefty to the rotation could be intriguing for the Braves to give them more diversity in that capacity throughout the rotation once Fried is back as the only southpaw in the top five.

As for Flaherty, there is more variance with his performance, but his best moments have been impressive enough for Atlanta to be intrigued. His 4.95 ERA and 1.60 WHIP aren’t going to wow you, but that could lower the potential trade cost and, as such, make him a worthwhile gamble for Anthopoulos and the franchise to take in a trade.