A surprise trade deadline target has emerged if the Atlanta Braves are willing to make an exception to their outlook as sellers. If the Braves have any reason to be buyers during a lost season, it is to address their lack of rotation options. Things have grown so dark that the Braves are setting up top prospects for failure and starting unreliable reliever Aaron Bummer. This sense of urgency was brought on by the team losing Reynaldo Lopez, AJ Smith-Shawver, Chris Sale, and Spencer Schwellenbach. On top of this, Spencer Strider has missed large chunks of time as well in the 2025 season.
Only Grant Holmes has been healthy and offered a consistent level of production in the 2025 season. All of this adds up to the Braves badly needing an arm capable of eating innings in the season's final two months. One surprising option has emerged with the Rays open to trade offers for Taj Bradley. The starter offers reliable back-end of the rotation potential and would be the perfect innings-eater until the rotation is healthy once again. Considering the team's recent string of injuries, this is an attractive option.
Taj Bradley Emerges as Perfect Braves Trade Target
Bradley is a perfect option based on having over three years of team control remaining as well as being an established arm at the back of a rotation. Atlanta isn't going to be forced to pay the price that it would take to bring in another top arm. Bringing in Bradley is about adding a controllable piece who still has high potential.
Trading for the current Rays starter is all about getting through the rest of this season as well as setting yourself up for surprise production in 2026. Looking at the current rotation it is fair to wonder if Bradley couldn't crack it next season with the team's concerning injury history.
For Bradley, it is a chance to work with an established franchise that is expecting to turn the corner next season. Having fallen so far out of contention the Braves can afford to sit back and allow Bradley to attempt to figure some things out while eating innings and saving the bullpen. This lessens the urgency as well for Atlanta's top arms to attempt to return.
It is ideal to take as much time as Sale, Lopez, and Schwellenbach need understanding the future value each arm brings. Exploring a trade for Bradley shows an understanding of this and a willingness to continue to build towards the future even in a season when it is clear that any playoff hopes are long dead.