Fansided

Braves Rumors: 3 last-minute trades Atlanta needs to make to win World Series

By Cody Williams

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 30: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Atlanta Braves reacts with Sean Murphy #12 after their 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park on July 30, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 30: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Atlanta Braves reacts with Sean Murphy #12 after their 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park on July 30, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Atlanta Braves trade rumors, Braves Rumors, Mets, Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander #35 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the second inning of a game at Citi Field on July 30, 2023 in New York City. The Mets defeated the Nationals 5-2 as Verlander recorded his 250th career win. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

The Braves haven’t made a splash at the MLB trade deadline yet, but any of these three last-minute trades would confirm Atlanta as World Series favorites.

It’s MLB trade deadline eve and, with just about 24 hours until every franchise must put their pencils down and turn in their tests trades, the Atlanta Braves, the team that still holds the best record in baseball by four game and with the best World Series odds by a pretty wide margin, have not made many moves.

Alex Anthopoulos took a gamble on Pierce Johnson and Taylor Hearn to help the bullpen, but the latter was then flipped for utility infielder Nicky Lopez in a trade this past weekend. Outside of that, it’s been quiet out of Cobb County.

That could change with some last-minute deadline trade for the Braves, though. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that Atlanta is one of the teams in the mix for a starting pitcher, though he noted there are many others and that has raised the price in that market. Meanwhile, insider Jon Heyman also reported that the club remains active looking for bullpen help too.

Atlanta has been connected to the Justin Verlander trade market while Heyman noted that “if any team” could work magic to trade for Josh Hader or David Bednar, it would be the Braves. However, with the likely price of those relievers and the Padres and Pirates both unwilling to budge as of now, that appears unlikely.

With that said, to affirm their position as World Series favorites, the Braves have trades they need to make. And any of these three trades would be massive in helping Atlanta get to that point if they can pull off some last-minute magic at the deadline.

Braves Rumors: 3 last-minute trades before deadline to win the World Series

3. Braves trade for Mets reliever Brooks Raley at the deadline

Trading with the rival Mets could be extremely fruitful for the Braves. Much to the chagrin of fans who want the club to go after the biggest possible fish still on the pond at the trade deadline in Verlander, though, it’s actually bullpen help that Atlanta could acquire from their NL East foes.

Admittedly, David Robertson would’ve been a great option but, now that he’s already been dealt to another divisional opponent in the Marlins, that could increase the urgency to go after a player like Brooks Raley for the Braves.

Raley has been rock-solid in the New York bullpen this season, accruing a 2.37 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 46 appearances. The big worry would be that he does have a 3.94 FIP and 3.31 xERA on the season, indicating that he’s gotten a bit lucky with his lower numbers for the Mets.

Having said that, the 35-year-old posted a sub-2.70 ER and 0.87 WHIP last season with Tampa Bay, indicating that he has the goods to be an effective late-inning option. That’s exactly what the Braves need in their bullpen too given the inconsistency of Raisel Iglesias and recent injury to A.J. Minter as well.

The cost should be relatively modest for Raley, even with teams like the Twins and Dodgers reportedly in the mix to trade for him as well. So if Atlanta truly wants to upgrade the bullpen, this would be a great spot to accomplish that.

Home/Atlanta Braves