Atlanta Braves: Five Moves to Make Before the Deadline

1. Trade for an Ace

This move is the least likely of the five and the one that the Braves should be most careful about making. To be clear the Braves should trade for an ace dependent on price and obviously if one is made available near the deadline.

Say what you want about the Braves young pitching and relying on the farm but if the Braves get a chance at an established player capable of slotting high in the rotation it is time to make the move. While it may go against the theme it will set the Braves up with a legitimate shot to compete in the next season even if only some of their prospects mature as they are expected to.

Adding another pitcher besides Julio Teheran into the mix long term will give the Braves another piece to build around and would leave them with limited free agency moves to make. The price of top of the rotation starters is only going up the longer the Braves delay in paying up for another top pitcher the more expensive it will get.

Expected Price: The price of pitchers on the trade market were established with first, the Shelby Miller deal last season.  Then Red Sox’s recent deal for Chris Sale. The Braves are not going to pay that high of a price and because of that (along with many other factors) this move is the longest shot of the five.