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MLB Rumors: Yankees selling, Braves-Cubs perfect trade, Astros dream trade

By Cody Williams

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 07: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees warms up before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium on July 7, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 07: Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees warms up before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium on July 7, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /
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MLB Rumors, Atlanta Braves, Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 09: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 9, 2023 in Bronx borough of New York City. The Cubs defeated the Yankees 7-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

MLB Rumors: Braves trade for Cubs SP Kyle Hendricks named a perfect match

For a few weeks now, the trade deadline plans for the Atlanta Braves have seemingly been focused on the NL East leaders upgrading the bullpen and potentially looking to add another outfield bat. But things are always changing quickly leading up to the deadline, and such could be the case with the Braves.

It’s no secret that Atlanta has pieced together quality starting pitching despite having a revolving door with their fifth starter and with Max Fried and Kyle Wright essentially missing the entire season to this point. Yet, the emergence of Bryce Elder has helped mask that as he’s given them a No. 3 starter who has been reliable.

Or at least he had been. In his bookend starts around the All-Star break, Elder has been shelled and run off the mound before the end of the fourth inning against the Rays and Diamondbacks. This isn’t to say that he’s going to continue to perform poorly, but it is a concerning recent trend that could heighten the need to trade for a starter.

Luckily, MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand has an answer to address that need by way of a trade with the Chicago Cubs. In a recent column creating perfect trade matches throughout the league, Feinsand listed Cubs veteran righty Kyle Hendricks as a great target for the Braves.

In 10 starts this season, Hendricks has been quite good with a 3.57 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, which has been improving after he was clearly shaking off some rust as he returned from injury earlier in the year. But Hendricks is also a pending free agent and, with the Cubs falling out of contention, he’s an asset they can acquire future pieces for at the deadline.

For the Braves, he would represent stability in the middle of the rotation and give Atlanta much-needed depth, especially if they were to suffer another injury that thinned the group of starters again. And with Hendricks being a rental for the end of the season, the price would also be right for the Braves.

Point being, Feinsand might be onto something with this match between the Braves and Cubs at the trade deadline.

Next. MLB Rumors: Blake Snell trade fit, Braves superstar trade, Cubs-Astros deal. dark

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