With the MLB All-Star Game out of the way, the Atlanta Braves are turning their attention to the trade deadline. There will be a flurry of activity over the next two weeks as teams gear up for a late-season run, but the Braves are in a precarious position.
The Braves enter the second half with a 42-53 record and are 12.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the National League East. The Wild Card race isn’t much of a life raft either as Atlanta sits 9.5 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final postseason berth.
While neither of these seem like realistic outcomes, general manager Alex Anthopoulos has already declared Braves ace Chris Sale off limits. But it hasn’t completely closed the door on trades as Atlanta shipped a struggling pitcher out of town during the All-Star break.
Braves Trade Reliever Michael Petersen to Marlins
The Miami Marlins announced on Wednesday night that they have acquired reliever Michael Petersen from the Braves in exchange for cash considerations. Petersen was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville after the move and it comes days after Atlanta designated the right-hander for assignment.
Petersen is here 💪 pic.twitter.com/JaWjv2Rwg6
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 17, 2025
The Braves were justified in kicking Petersen to the curb. After splitting last season with the Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers, Petersen joined the Braves in a trade from the Los Angeles Angels on April 1 and spent most of the year at Triple-A Gwinnett.
The 6-foot-7, right-hander earned his way to the majors posting a 3.13 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 20 appearances for the Stripers, but things didn’t pan out in Atlanta, allowing three earned runs with a pair of walks and five strikeouts over four appearances (6.2 innings).
It’s the latest stop for Petersen as a player that was drafted four times prior to his professional career. He has also spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays organizations but has never been able to stick in a major league bullpen.
The move isn’t the seismic change that Braves fans could be expecting ahead of the trade deadline but it could be a signal of what’s to come. With Atlanta circling the drain in the National League, Anthopoulos will look to trim the fat and spark his team for a late run this season or a strong start next year.