Resurgent Braves Predicted to Cut Ties With 8-Time All-Star at Trade Deadline
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
The Atlanta Braves' season has not gone as they expected. They were 11 games back of the National League East and 5 1/2 games out of a wild card spot, going into play on Thursday.
During a recent appearance on 680 The Fan's "Cellini and Dimino," general manager Alex Anthopoulos noted that the team would not be sellers, and specifically that it would not trade Chris Sale. He noted that he wants to be in a position to add at the trade deadline. However, why would a general manager ever admit giving up on the season or shopping its most reliable pitcher?
The Braves have been playing better as of late. They have won three consecutive series, but they still have plenty of ground to make up. If they are not in a position to add players by the July 31 deadline, it may be in the best interest of the team for Anthopoulos to trade away some players who could be free agents after the season.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 3: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves returns to the dugout during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Truist Park on September 3, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 3: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves returns to the dugout during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Truist Park on September 3, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.Perhaps the most valuable trade chip the Braves have is Sale. He is an eight-time All-Star and the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner. CBS Sports' Matt Snyder predicted the Braves would actually part ways with Sale at the deadline, despite Anthopoulos' comments in the media.
"I'll get aggressive here, though, and go with a more recent Cy Young winner who looks great again this season: Chris Sale," wrote Snyder, predicting which players would be traded at the deadline. "The Braves are out of the NL East race. They are 5 1/2 games out of the NL wild-card race, which says they are a contender, but there are four teams in between. Should they fall back to something like eight games out by the last week of July, there's reason to believe they could miss the playoffs. Sale is 36 years old and could be a free agent after this year."
Sale would quickly become the prize of the trade deadline. He has an $18 million club option for next season. He has a 2.52 ERA in 15 starts this season and 114 strikeouts.
More MLB: Yankees' $90 Million 3-Time All-Star 'Obvious Guy to Be Dealt' Amid Losing Streak
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
23 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Olson and Strider help Braves sweep Mets and extend their losing streak to 6 games
ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Olson hit a three-run double, Spencer Strider struck out eight in six innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Mets 7-1 on Thursday night to complete a series sweep that extended New York's season-worst losing streak to six games. New York's latest sloppy defeat, paired with Philadelphia's 2-1 win over Miami, left the Mets and Phillies tied for first place in the NL East heading into their upcoming weekend series. Mets pitchers issued nine walks, including a career-high six in 4 2/3 innings by starter Clay Holmes (7-4), who allowed three runs. Huascar Brazobán walked three while giving up four runs in relief. Strider (2-5) yielded one run and five hits with one walk. Olson added another double and two walks, and scored three runs. The Braves have won three straight and seven of nine. They trail the Mets and Phillies by 10 games one week after they were 15 games out of first place. Key moment With the bases loaded and Holmes facing a 3-2 count to Drake Baldwin in the fifth, the right-hander had an issue with the PitchCom device in his cap. After a new device was delivered from the dugout, Holmes threw ball four to force in a run that gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead. Brazobán followed with another bases-loaded walk, to Ozzie Albies. Key stat Juan Soto's single with two outs in the first for the Mets was his 1,000th career hit at age 26. Up next The Mets had not announced a scheduled starting pitcher for Friday night's opener of a three-game series at Philadelphia. Right-hander Justin Hagenman, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, was expected to be the answer or serve as a bulk reliever behind an opener, but he was needed as the Mets' second reliever against Atlanta. The Braves are expected to call up 20-year-old rookie Didier Fuentes for his major league debut to start at Miami and provide extra rest for the regular members of the rotation. ___ AP MLB:
New York Post
23 minutes ago
- New York Post
Sputtering Mets ripped by Braves for sixth straight loss, fall into tie for first with Phillies
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free ATLANTA — Stink, stank, stunk. There you have the anatomy of the Mets' three games at Truist Park that followed their equally compelling series last weekend against the Rays. The Mets were sputtering before Thursday's first pitch was thrown, and following a 7-1 loss to the Braves for a sixth straight defeat, the threat of a lingering stench seemed likely. It's a team headed into Philadelphia to face Zack Wheeler on Friday with solo possession of first place in the NL East a memory. The Phillies have won five of six games and ended the day tied with the Mets atop the division. That the Mets are slumping offensively isn't sounding alarms as much as the recent pitching doldrums. On this night it was Clay Holmes who turned in a clunker, following an uninspiring Paul Blackburn start, and Huascar Brazoban didn't provide any relief. It left manager Carlos Mendoza to use Justin Hagenman for 2 ²/₃ innings, removing him from duty on Friday, when he likely would have followed an opener against the Phillies. 4 Matt Olson slides safely past Francisco Alvarez to score a run in the fourth inning of the Mets' 7-1 loss to the Braves on June 19, 2025. Brett Davis-Imagn Images But there is no excusing a lineup that produced only one run over the final 22 innings against the Braves, barely emitting a squeak against Chris Sale and Spencer Strider. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS The Braves are still five games below .500, but have to believe their season is alive, especially with a four-game series looming next week at Citi Field. Holmes couldn't escape the fifth, extending Drake Baldwin's at-bat to eight pitches before walking him with the bases loaded to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. 4 Clay Holmes, who allowed three runs and was taken out in the fifth inning, talks with Francisco Alvarez during the first inning of the Mets' loss to the Braves. Brett Davis-Imagn Images Holmes departed at 104 pitches, and Huascar Brazoban issued a four-pitch walk to Ozzie Albies that further extended Atlanta's lead before Brazoban recorded the final out. Holmes was charged for three earned runs on four hits and six walks over 4²/₃ innings in a rare sloppy performance that pushed his ERA to 3.04. It was a second straight start in which Holmes failed to reach the sixth inning. 4 Nick Allen celebrates after hitting a double in the third inning of the Mets' loss to the Braves. Brett Davis-Imagn Images Ronny Mauricio stroked an RBI single against Strider in the second for the game's first run. Tyrone Taylor singled and stole second before Mauricio delivered with two outs. It was a needed contribution from the rookie Mauricio, who entered in a 3-for-22 (.136) rut over his previous seven games. 4 Tyrone Taylor high-fives teammates after scoring a run in the second inning of the Mets' loss to the Braves. AP The RBI snapped a 15-inning scoreless streak for the Mets, who were dominated by Sale a night earlier.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals vs. White Sox Game 1 Highlights
Mets vs Braves (6/17/25) | Mets Highlights Juan Soto hit a first-inning home run for the Mets, and Tyrone Taylor drove in three runs. The Braves tied the game with three runs in the eighth and capitalized in the 10th, beating the Mets 5-4. 3:18 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
