Braves insider: Slow start to season won't stop Atlanta from adding ‘big names' at trade deadline
It's been an uphill climb for the Atlanta Braves this season. After starting 0-7, they are currently at .500 with a 24-24 record, but that won't stop them from adding at the trade deadline, according to a Braves insider.
Heading into the season, they knew they would be without ace Spencer Strider (internal brace surgery recovery) and former MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. (torn ACL recovery), but the hits kept coming.
Advertisement
The Braves signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year, $42 million contract following an All-Star season with the San Diego Padres and expected him to fill Acuna's void until he returned. But after playing just four games, he was suspended 80 games after testing positive for a PED. He's eligible to return in late June but is prohibited from postseason play.
They also potentially lost All-Star starter Reynaldo Lopez (right shoulder inflammation) and top reliever Joe Jimenez (left knee cartilage damage) for the season.
Strider returned to the rotation on April 16, only to go back on the IL due to a right hamstring strain. He missed another month before being reinstated May 19.
Despite their struggles, Braves reporter Grant McCauley for 92.9 The Game believes the franchise will be active at the trade deadline because they weren't able to accomplish their offseason goals.
Advertisement
'In no version of the script would I say, 'Well, the Braves looked at their pitching staff and thought they didn't need anything,'' McCauley told the 'Foul Territory' podcast. 'I think they would've liked to have gotten another high-leverage reliever, which was only made worse when Joe Jimenez could be out for the year. And I think they would've liked to have added somebody to fortify the rotation and really give them that standout group. I think those are still areas that they're going to go out and shop for.'
McAuley added that the Braves won't be hampered by payroll, making them 'a very intriguing team out there lurking for some big names.'
'I think that they are poised to do something at the trade deadline and I've heard Alex Anthopoulos talk about it, the math for them, how they look at the luxury tax and when you get to the trade deadline, you're really only talking about having to pay for a third of that player's salary for the year,' said McAuley.
Advertisement
Currently, the Braves are six games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East lead and are four out of the last Wild Card spot.
Related Headlines
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
30 minutes ago
- Fox News
Fan tosses ball near home plate in strange sequence during Braves-Giants game
The Atlanta Braves' losing streak reached five games Friday. But much of the discussion after the San Francisco Giants' 5-4 victory centered around a bizarre moment in the fourth inning. A fan sitting in the stands at Oracle Park threw a ball toward home plate at about the same time Braves first baseman Matt Olson scored a run. Olson rounded third base and headed home after teammate Sean Murphy hit a fly ball to the outfield. The second ball landed near home plate almost immediately after Giants right fielder Mike Yastrzemski's throw made its way into catcher Patrick Bailey's mitt. The extra baseball appeared to leave Bailey, Olson and others in a brief state of confusion. "Where did the other ball come from?" a Giants' broadcaster asked. "(It) came outta the upper deck," his broadcasting partner responded. "Some clown threw the baseball onto the field. I have never seen that." The game umpires briefly convened to discuss the strange sequence. The game eventually resumed, and Olson's run reduced the Giants' lead to 3-1. Giants manager Bob Melvin addressed the incident after the game. "That's a first," Melvin said. "I've never seen that before. I don't know where it came from. I don't know what the rule is. I think everybody was a little surprised by it. It didn't affect the play, but it was extremely odd to see another baseball come on the field." The Braves dropped a sixth consecutive game Saturday afternoon after the Giants hit a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth inning for a 3-2 victory. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Angels Announce Mike Trout News After Latest Setback
Angels Announce Mike Trout News After Latest Setback originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Baseball is better when Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout is healthy, mashing home runs, and manning the outfield. Advertisement We're getting closer to seeing Trout achieve all three once again. Trout, who moved from center to right field in spring training, did outfield drills before Friday's 5-4 victory over the rival Seattle Mariners. Trout hasn't played the outfield since suffering a knee injury on April 30. He missed nearly a month with a left knee bone bruise. 'He said he felt good,' Washington told reporters. 'It was just minimal motion. That's all. Just minimal motion. Nothing that really challenged him. But it's a start.' Los Angeles Angels right fielder Mike TroutTroy Taormina-Imagn Images Unfortunately for opposing pitchers, a healthy Trout seemingly found the Fountain of Youth during his IL stint. Trout is 10-of-25 in his last seven games with a home run and five RBI. Advertisement However, Trout is still only hitting .221 and is on pace for his lowest OPS since his 40-game cameo in 2011. He's at least matched last year's 10 home runs. As for the Angels, they're quietly lurking in the AL playoff hunt. Trout and teammates entered Saturday at 29-33, 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Houston Astros in the AL West. The Angels trail the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League's third and final Wild Card spot. Related: Dodgers' Mookie Betts Sends Clear Message About Latest Position Change Related: MLB Potentially Facing Major Francisco Lindor Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Guardians Make Curious Carlos Santana Decision Before Astros Game
Guardians Make Curious Carlos Santana Decision Before Astros Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Cleveland Guardians veteran Carlos Santana's trip down the Fountain of Youth is on pause. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt sat Santana against the Houston Astros on Saturday, one day after his impressive 14-game hitting streak ended. Santana went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Friday's 4-2 loss at Progressive Field. Advertisement Vogt instead started Kyle Manzardo at first and had perennial All-Star third baseman José Ramírez serve as the DH. Although Santana turned 39 in April, he's nonetheless enjoyed a strong campaign as one of the league's oldest players. Santana entered Saturday hitting .256 with seven homers, 29 RBI, and a .747 OPS for the third-place Guardians. Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos SantanaDavid Richard-Imagn Images Santana is already worth 1.5 bWAR, and he played 57 of Cleveland's first 62 games. Everything considered, that's excellent production for a player who debuted in June 2010, only a month before teammate Jhonkensy Noel's ninth birthday. Ouch. Santana has 331 career homers, placing him in a four-way tie for 121st with Tigers legend Hank Greenberg, ex-Chicago Cubs All-Star Derrek Lee, and unsigned veteran J.D. Martinez. Advertisement Cleveland sits at 33-29, half a game behind the inconsistent Toronto Blue Jays for the American League's third and final Wild Card spot. The Guardians trail the MLB-best Tigers by seven games in the AL Central. Related: Dodgers Make Unfortunate Tony Gonsolin Announcement Before Cardinals Game Related: Angels Announce Mike Trout News After Latest Setback This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
