Atlanta is going to buy at the trade deadline and we're ranking the 12 best (and realistic) trade targets for the Braves before Aug. 1.
The MLB Trade Deadline on Aug. 1 is now just over a week away, and all eyes in the National League are at least glancing at the Atlanta Braves. Owners of the best record in baseball at 63-34 entering Sunday, the 2021 World Series champions are likely going to be buyers as they try to fill out the holes on the roster.
Most notably, the Braves could use pitching help. Upgrading an injury-plagued bullpen is by far the most pressing concern for Alex Anthopoulos at the trade deadline, which is unlikely to change. However, an uncertain timetable for Kyle Wright's return from injury, even with Max Fried soon getting back to the big leagues, and a number of other injuries could also cause Atlanta to poke around the market for an addition to the rotation. And if they're frisky, they could also add another bat to the platoon in left field.
The big conundrum is that the Braves have one of the worst farm systems in baseball by most rankings, so their options are somewhat limited as to who they could pursue. Put simply, they won't be in the markets for Marcus Stroman, Justin Verlander, or other big names such as that.
Considering all of this, I've narrowed it down to 12 Braves trade targets who the club could realistically pursue and make a deal for. And naturally, we're ranking those 12 players by who would be the biggest and best upgrades and values for the Braves at the 2023 trade deadline.
Braves Rumors: Ranking Atlanta's 12 best trade targets
Braves Trade Target No. 12: Adam Duvall, OF, Boston Red Sox
With the way the Red Sox have come out of the All-Star break, the odds of the club selling outright at the trade deadline have dropped precipitously. In fact, it's far more likely they're buyers than anything.
At the same time, in order to buy and make some key moves for now and the future, they could be wise to unload at a position where they have a surplus. And that could put a familiar face in outfielder Adam Duvall on the radar as he's part of a crowded group in Boston that includes Jarren Duran, Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida, Rob Refsnyder and perhaps Kiké Hernandez soon too.
Duvall got off to a red-hot start this season but an injury killed his momentum and he struggled when he returned. He's started to rebound lately and the Braves, if they're inclined to go after an outfield depth upgrade, could bank on that with someone who has a previous relationship with the club.
Braves Trade Target No. 11: Lance Lynn, SP, Chicago White Sox
For my money, the Braves won't get involved in the Lucas Giolito trade market at the deadline. Everyone knows the White Sox are selling and the veteran is one of the top targets around the league. That doesn't seem like a battle that Atlanta would be willing to get involved in.
With that said, the Southsiders aren't just possibly dealing one starting pitcher as Lance Lynn, who has only a club option for 2024 remaining on his contract, could be another asset. The numbers for Lynn have been, frankly, bad, with a 6.16 ERA on the season. But his numbers against righties and an increased home-run rate that look like an outlier in his career give some hope that, with a change of scenery, he could be much better and back to form.
Lynn's market too could be lucrative, to be sure, which is why he comes in as only the No. 11 target. Even still, if Alex Anthopoulos likes a deal he could make for Lynn, then the veteran could help the Braves immensely down the stretch in the rotation.
Braves Trade Target No. 10: Kendall Graveman, RP, Chicago White Sox
Again, the White Sox are expected to aggressively mash the reset button on their roster at the trade deadline. And while veteran reliever Kendall Graveman isn't on an expiring contract, he's in the second year of a three-year pact with Chicago and, at 32 years old, now might be the best value that the organization can get for him.
Graveman, as he has at virtually every stop in his career over the past few seasons, has been a stalwart for the White Sox bullpen this year, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 43 appearances already on the year.
The Braves could certainly use another late-inning reliever to upgrade the bullpen. Having said that, he just barely cracks the Top 10 of their trade targets in these rankings because of the price that could come with 1.5 years left on his deal in relation to his talent.
Braves Trade Target No. 9: Michael Lorenzen, SP, Detroit Tigers
The lone All-Star for the Detroit Tigers this season, Michael Lorenzen has been a bit of a pleasant surprise in the 2023 season. After posting a 4.24 ERA or worse in each of the last three seasons — two with the Reds, one with the Angels — the Tigers likely didn't expect the 31-year-old righty to post a team-best 3.49 ERA and 1.09 WHIP for the season. But here we are.
Of course, as has been the case for several years, Detroit is well out of the playoff race in any meaningful capacity at this point, which likely means that they're going to sell. The biggest prize in their rotation will be starter Eduardo Rodriguez, but Lorenzen should garner a ton of interest too, as reported by Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
Again, upgrading the rotation isn't the top priority for the Braves but, if the price is right, then Lorenzen could be a perfect fit to round out the starters in Atlanta.
Braves Trade Target No. 8: Zack Greinke, SP, Kansas City Royals
The only true big-name trade that we've seen made to this point was the Kansas City Royals dealing Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers… but that's not expected to be all that the last-place team in the lowly AL Central will trade away before Aug. 1.
It remains to be seen if one of those players would be Royals legend Zack Greinke in the twilight of his career, specifically if he would want to move on in a trade to a contender. If that happens, though, it could be a situation in which Kansas City looks to do right by him and not play too much hardball with trade partners. Moreover, his performance this season won't make him one of the most coveted arms on the trade block.
That's a bit of a catch-22 for the Braves, though. Would they want a guy with a 5.40 ERA on the year? Greinke's experience and track record are what make him enticing, but you could easily fall on either side of whether it's a good idea for Atlanta to pursue this move or not.
Braves Trade Target No. 7: Scott Barlow, RP, Kansas City Royals
Earlier in the season when taking a look at trade possibilities for Atlanta, I was all-aboard the Scott Barlow trade. That hype, however, has since cooled, which is largely because Barlow simply hasn't been as reliable as expected.
Through 34 appearances on the season, the 30-year-old with just one arbitration year left on his contract has a 4.89 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. More concerningly, he had a 5.19 ERA in nine June outings and that has ballooned to an 8.44 ERA over five appearances in July.
Considering that Barlow had a 2.42 and 2.18 ERA in 2021 and 2022, respectively, with the Royals, the Braves could very well still believe in his talent and stuff as a way to upgrade the bullpen. The performance this season, unfortunately, casts some shades of doubt on that, which could ultimately push Atlanta away from making this deal.
Braves Trade Target No. 6: Jordan Montgomery, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Going back to the possibility of upgrading the rotation, one of the best values on the trade market could be St. Louis Cardinals southpaw Jordan Montgomery.
For one, the track record for the left-hander is stellar, both this season and going back a few years. In 19 starts in 2023, he leads the Cards in ERA (3.14) and WHIP (1.23) after posting a 3.11 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 11 starts after being traded to St. Louis at the deadline a year ago. But as part of a fire sale for the Cardinals and on an expiring contract, he's extremely movable.
The one factor working against the Braves here is that other contenders, most of whom could also use a starter to add to the rotation, are aware of the value that Montgomery could bring as a player and the relatively low trade cost as well. As such, the market could be lucrative and possibly price out Atlanta.
Braves Trade Target No. 5: Michael Fulmer, RP, Chicago Cubs
Michael Fulmer could be one of the biggest sleepers on the trade market at the deadline, and is a player who should very much be on the Braves' radar.
When you look at the season-long numbers, Fulmer hasn't done much to wow anyone with a 4.43 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, neither of which look like an ace out of the bullpen by any stretch. Having said that, he's been nails for the Cubs over the past two months, posting an 0.66 ERA in 12 June appearances and with a 3.00 ERA in seven July outings. Throw in two straight previous seasons with an ERA under 3.50 and he's clearly an asset as a reliever for a contender.
Fulmer signed just a one-year deal with the Cubs this past offseason and, with Chicago likely to sell, they could get a solid return for the veteran. Atlanta, meanwhile, could get another late-inning reliever with plenty of experience and the ability to be a high-leverage option
Braves Trade Target No. 4: Kyle Hendricks, SP, Chicago Cubs
Sticking with the Chicago Cubs, the best starting pitching option that the Braves could target at the trade deadline is veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks. At 33 years old, Hendricks is ostensibly an expiring contract too with only a club option for 2024 remaining after this season.
Once again, his contract and the state of the Cubs makes him a trade asset worth exploring dealing, and his work on the mound this season for an Atlanta team that needs to fortify the rotation can't go overlooked, especially at a likely reasonable price.
In 11 starts this season, Hendricks has quietly been phenomenal, posting a 3.38 ERA and 1.06 WHIP on the year. Adding that type of veteran presence and performance behind Spencer Strider, Max Fried and Bryce Elder in the Braves rotation could be massive, especially in the postseason.
Braves Trade Target No. 3: Alex Lange, RP, Detroit Tigers
When it comes to trade deadline options, there often aren't a plethora of potential long-term options and solutions that could realistically be explored. One of the few this year who also just so happens to fit the biggest need for Atlanta, however, would be Tigers right-hander Alex Lange.
The numbers for the 27-year-old aren't overwhelming as Detroit's closer has a 4.08 ERA and 1.29 WHIP for the year, numbers that took a big hit in June when h posted an 11.57 ERA over 11 appearances. In the first two months of the season, though, his ERA was just above 1.00 and he's posted a 3.86 mark in five July appearances as well.
Even at his age, Lange still has four years of club control (one pre-arbitration, three arbitration years) left on his contract. That could up the price but, if the Tigers look for younger future assets, then dealing the reliever to a team like the Braves would make a ton of sense as a contender has more use for him now and moving forward than Detroit.
Braves Trade Target No. 2: David Bednar, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Take just about everything that was said about Lange being a long-term solution that Atlanta could explore in a trade to upgrade the bullpen and amplify it tenfold when it comes to Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar.
The bottom has fallen out for the Pirates after a hot start to 2023 and now they are going to be selling once again. Bednar, however, is the white wale. The 28-year-old closer has been elite this season, posting a 1.15 ERA with an 0.95 WHIP over 38 outings. That too is a continuation of the past two years when he had a 2.23 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 2021 and then a 2.61 ERA and 1.12 WHIP last year.
What's tricky is Bednar's contract as he'll just enter the first of three arbitration years in 2024. But that's also when we've seen Alex Anthopoulos like to make big moves, when he can lock up players early on team-friendly extensions. Perhaps Bednar could be that guy as he'd substantially upgrade the bullpen to allow Raisel Iglesias and A.J. Minter to comfortably be set-up guys for a proven closer in Bednar for years to come.
Braves Trade Target No. 1: Josh Hader, RP, San Diego Padres
The case against the San Diego Padres selling at all at the deadline is becoming hard to understand in any capacity. They are still three games under .500 and 10 games out of the NL West lead with the strength at the top of the division.
Even if they don't go all-out and try to move a piece like Juan Soto, it would behoove the Friars to move expiring contracts like Josh Hader and Blake Snell to get as much value as possible. And with the Braves' big need in the bullpen, much like Bednar coming in as a new closer, Hader could be the same, just with a bigger name and equally as dominant production.
Hader, who has been near-unhittable with an 0.97 ERA and 0.95 WHIP on the season, is going to have a busy market if he's available and, as such, could be costly. But if that high trade cost lands the Braves arguably the best closer in baseball, it would be worth it to pay whatever price the Padres are asking should they make him available.