MLB Rumors: Braves making last-ditch effort to improve starting pitching

The Atlanta Braves aren’t done at the trade deadline as they are in on two big names to improve their starting pitching. 

No, the Atlanta Braves aren’t the ones dealing for Justin Verlander at the MLB trade deadline. But they are in the starting pitching market.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the two biggest names left on the trade market in the way of starting pitchers — Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty and Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez — are generating strong interest around the league.

And the Braves are one of the teams involved in that market.

MLB Rumors: Braves in on Jack Flaherty, Eduardo Rodriguez trade markets

The prices on the trade market for starting pitchers have undoubtedly put the Braves in a bind. They don’t have a strong farm system comparatively to much of the rest of the league, but they still do have some assets that could move teams like the Cardinals or Tigers off of these starting pitchers like Flaherty and Rodriguez.

With that being said, having teams with loaded systems also in the market for those starters like the Dodgers, Orioles, Reds, Marlins and Diamondbacks does not necessarily work in the favor of Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves at the trade deadline.

On the Baseball Insiders Trade Deadline special on Tuesday, FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray did note that there had been a connection between Atlanta and the San Francisco Giants about bringing a familiar face back into the fold to address the starting pitching need: Alex Wood. Murray noted that he was unsure if that would happen but it would make sense for both clubs in the right trade.

With less than two hours until the deadline, the Braves have upgraded the bullpen depth with Brad Hand joining Pierce Johnson while they also found infield depth with Nicky Lopez in a deal with the Royals. Now we’ll see if their big splash is for a starting pitcher like Flaherty or Rodriguez, or if there’s not a splash to be made at all.