Atlanta Braves Trading For Rays Starting Pitcher Eovaldi?
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves could be targeting Ray’s starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. Should the Braves trade for the starter?
According to this MLB Trade Rumors report, the Atlanta Braves are one of three teams clear teams scouting Nathan Eovaldi heavily. Considering the Braves recent rotation struggles the report isn’t surprising.
Still, it is hard to see a pitcher like Eovaldi vaulting the Braves to the top. Adding him isn’t exactly going to make the rotation much better. In his career, Nathan has had an ERA well over four and right now is sitting at 4.59.
It is hard to see him as a big upgrade for the rotation. With the Brewers and Yankees, the other two reported teams in the mix Atlanta should hold off on trading for Eovaldi.
Adding a bullpen arm or a more reliable starter should be the only trade rentals the Braves consider. Any other moves will leave them just as susceptible come postseason time.
Addressing the bullpen or lack of a top of the rotation starter should be the only options for the front office. Trading for an average starter doesn’t make the World Series contenders.
With that in mind, spending prospects on Eovaldi is a waste of the Braves’ resources. As concerns mount about the team’s ability to make the postseason the team should be very careful spending resources on a player like Eovaldi.
Atlanta sits at 52-42 heading into the All-Star Break trailing the division-leading Phillies by only a half game. An impressive mark considering their 3-7 record over the last ten games this season.
The team will have four representatives in this year’s summer classic with Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Ozzie Albies, and Mike Foltynewicz all headed to Washington. Freeman and Markakis have both been named as starters.
Next: Braves Free Agent Targets
No doubt this team is a postseason contender and should look to add talent. A word that doesn’t describe Nathan Eovaldi and should leave him out of consideration for Atlanta.