Braves Rumors: Potential trade for Cubs RHP Michael Fulmer
The Atlanta Braves have been dead set on bolstering their bullpen ahead of the trade deadline, already acquiring Taylor Hearn and Pierce Johnson in separate deals. With several relievers absent due to injury, the Braves are making sure their top-ranked pitching staff loses no steam.
Another potential target, as outlined by David O'Brien and Jim Bowden of The Athletic, is Cubs righty Michael Fulmer. Chicago is a potential deadline seller, currently sitting two games below .500 and six games out of first place in the NL Central. Fulmer has been red-hot lately, posting an ERA of 1.50 with 24 strikeouts in his last 24 innings pitched.
The Braves could end up with too much of a good thing once the injuries subside, but right now the bullpen is the biggest area of concern for a team that doesn't harbor too many glaring weaknesses. Alex Anthopoulos and the front office have clearly identified their goal ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline and Fulmer would be in keeping with that goal.
Ultimately, Chicago is the deciding force here. If the Cubs want to keep the ship afloat and fight for a postseason spot, which is still very much achievable given the shoddy nature of the NL Central, then there's no reason to trade a key pitcher. If Chicago wants to pivot toward a second-half tank, however, the it makes sense to dish out Fulmer in the final year of his contract. The proposed trade from The Athletic has Chicago receiving RHP Dereck Rodriguez and catcher prospect Drake Baldwin from Atlanta.
Braves Rumors: Vaughn Grissom is Atlanta's most likely trade chip
Sam Blum, C. Trent Rosecrans and Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic were tasked with naming the player most likely to get traded from every MLB team. Unsurprisingly, the name tied to the Atlanta Braves was shortstop Vaughn Grissom.
Grissom was the preseason favorite to take over shortstop duties in Atlanta following the departure of All-Star Dansby Swanson, but he lost the job to Orlando Arcia. Grissom spent time in the majors following Ozzie Albies' injury earlier in the season (.277/.314/.308 and seven RBIs in 19 games), but he has otherwise been a staple of triple-A Gwinnett.
The Braves have Arcia and Albies locked up on long-term contracts, meaning Grissom's future with the franchise is inherently murky. He's still a talented hitter who should have fans around the league, but his defensive limitations and the overwhelming depth of Atlanta's major league roster makes him expendable in the right deal.
What the "right deal" is, of course, will matter. The Braves have been eager to fill out the bullpen and there's suspicion that Alex Anthopoulos could target more position depth. Grissom is one of the better young players in Atlanta's farm system, still only 22 years old. He won't be moved unless it's for a considerable short-term upgrade, but the Braves are known to maneuver aggressively and Atlanta has a prime opportunity to compete for a World Series title this autumn.
Braves Rumors: Is there potential holdup with Adam Duvall interest?
The Braves are expected to have interest in Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall, who spent 1.5 seasons with Atlanta from 2021-22. He won the World Series with the Braves and will forever have the heart of the fanbase, but there could be one factor preventing a reunion.
Any Duvall trade is expected to revolve around Atlanta sending bullpen depth to the Red Sox, who desperately need healthy arms. The Braves' bullpen need is less desperate, but as all these rumors strongly indicate, the Braves are keen on bolstering their own pitching rotation ahead of the playoffs.
With so many injuries to the current group, even the arrival of Taylor Hearn and Pierce Johnson isn't enough to assuage the concerns of Alex Anthopoulos entirely. If Atlanta is asked to part with significant pitching talent to acquire Duvall, that could end up being a non-starter.
On the other hand, Duvall played the best baseball of his career with Atlanta and his bat would be of undeniable utility. The most probable outcome, as Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors points out, would be the right-handed Duvall forming a left field platoon with Eddie Rosario, who bats left-handed. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II are unlikely to concede their spots in the outfield.
Duvall is splitting .259/.329/.511 for the season with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 139 at-bats. He can still provide a power surge in the Braves' lineup and he's a former Gold Glove winner from that magical 2021 season.