Braves face key decisions ahead of trade deadline

By Mark Bowman, Braves.com

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves enter the second half of the season in first place in the National League East, but if they hope to remain there, general manager Alex Anthopoulos is expected to be among baseball’s busiest executives before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Starting pitching tops Atlanta’s list of needs, though the Braves could also pursue bullpen help and an additional bat despite Ronald Acuña Jr.’s expected return from the injured list.

The Braves stumbled into the All-Star break, losing 19 of their final 29 games, but still held a two-game lead atop the NL East with a 55-40 record. Their postseason chances remain strong, but a struggling rotation has become an increasing concern.

Atlanta’s starters have compiled a 5.24 ERA over the club’s last 48 games, exposing what has been viewed as the organization’s biggest weakness since last offseason.

Injuries have taken a heavy toll on the rotation. Spencer Strider is not expected to return this season, while the timetable for Spencer Schwellenbach remains uncertain.

That leaves reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale as the only proven frontline starter expected to anchor the rotation down the stretch.

The Braves are hopeful Reynaldo López can regain his form and Bryce Elder can become more consistent. Hurston Waldrep continues to work his way back after elbow surgery in February, while AJ Smith-Shawver is another possibility as he recovers from his own elbow procedure. But each carries significant uncertainty.

With just 17 games separating the resumption of the season from the trade deadline, the performances of López and Elder during their first two starts could influence how aggressive Atlanta becomes in pursuing outside help.

The Braves have the financial flexibility to make significant additions.

The club gained approximately $15 million in payroll relief when outfielder Jurickson Profar received a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Atlanta also possesses one of its deepest farm systems in years, giving Anthopoulos the prospect capital needed to compete for top trade targets.

One player who could generate significant interest is 20-year-old outfield prospect Eric Hartman, rated the Braves’ No. 2 prospect and the No. 77 overall prospect in baseball. Hartman has impressed at High-A Rome, batting .281 with 21 home runs, 31 stolen bases and a .902 OPS in 90 games.

Whether the Braves are willing to part with a player many view as a future star remains one of the organization’s biggest decisions before the deadline.

Atlanta could also seek offensive help.

Veteran Dominic Smith initially appeared to stabilize the designated hitter role against right-handed pitching, but he has struggled since May 1, batting .229 with a .603 OPS over 162 plate appearances. Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin has filled the DH role at times, though the Braves may prefer to add another left-handed hitter to deepen the lineup.

Another key to Atlanta’s second-half hopes could be the resurgence of third baseman Austin Riley.

After producing three consecutive 30-home run seasons through 2023, Riley has been slowed by injuries over the past two years and entered the All-Star break with a .618 OPS. A return to his previous production would provide a major boost to an offense that has been inconsistent for much of the season.

Anthopoulos has built a reputation for deadline success, acquiring Kevin Gausman and Adam Duvall in 2018, reshaping the bullpen in 2019 and engineering the series of moves that helped propel the Braves to the 2021 World Series championship.

With another postseason berth within reach, Atlanta appears positioned to once again be one of the deadline’s most active contenders.