The Atlanta Braves are a clear example of a team that must be very active in this year's trade market. Even as the team continues to get healtheir there are clear areas of needed improvement. One possible addition could be shifting Grant Holmes back to the bullpen or going with a six man rotation if the team can find an ace. With AJ Smith-Shawver's youth and Holmes having limited starting experience an addition would make sense for Atlanta.
One dream target would be Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. The flamethrower has caught the league's attention for his quick ascension. Atlanta having a trio of Skenes, Strider, and Sale atop the rotation is undeniably an exciting hypothetical. However, it is going to remain just that with the Pirates signaling zero interest in moving the franchise star. Despite the speculation, a move never made sense for the Pirates to seriously consider.
Any Atlanta Braves Hopes of Landing Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Have Been Cooled
In truth, any hopes of landing Skenes were based completely on speculation and wishful thinking. Even if it somehow made sense for the Pirates to trade their star player, it would require the Braves to win a bidding war. Not only do you have to sacrifice a huge package for the Pittsburgh starter, but you must also, in turn, pay Skenes a long-term deal for the move to be worth the sacrifice.
All of this adds up to an impossibility for Atlanta. Even if the franchise were poorly run enough to trade Skenes, it isn't going to be the Braves winning the prospective bidding war. Adding a starter does make sense, but any huge swings from the Braves should be in an attempt to correct an inconsistent offensive performance.
Atlanta's rotation has been shockingly solid for the last month while which version of the Atlanta offense is going to show up any given inning remains a mystery. If the Braves are going to maek this level of a splash it should be for one of the league's star hitters to boost an inconsistent lineup.
While Skenes is an exciting move to consider, it simply isn't happening even if the Pirates were suddenly willing to trade the franchise star.