The Braves have continued to underperform as the season nears its three-month mark. They clawed back from their 0-7 start to get above .500 in mid-May -- right as they were about to activate Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider from the injured list. Optimism was high. Then came a stretch of 14 losses in 17 contests that dropped them to a season-high 10 games below .500 over the weekend. They're coming off a solid series win in Milwaukee, but they face long odds to climb back into a tough NL playoff race. The division is all but gone, and they're nine games back with six teams to jump in the Wild Card picture.
Atlanta's front office isn't going to sell six weeks in advance of the trade deadline. They've invested a lot and this core's prior successes have earned them as much runway as possible to get hot. Jon Heyman of The New York Post wrote last night that the Braves still view themselves as buyers, highlighting shortstop and the outfield as potential targets.
Still, they're running low on time and coming off their worst stretch of the season. The back half of the lineup, late-inning relief mix, and starting pitching depth are all issues. They'll need a significant turnaround in the next 4-6 weeks to avoid selling some short-term pieces. Marcell Ozuna would be an obvious candidate as a rental bat who is raking for a third consecutive season. They could try to offload impending free agent reliever Raisel Iglesias, who has put himself on shaky ground by struggling with the longball. The tougher question is whether the front office should move any key players who are controllable beyond this year -- with Chris Sale leading the way as the team's top option.
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Yes
Listen to everything!
Come on Hoyer, at least kick the tires on Sale!
Dodgers might offer someone like Jackson Ferris in return or even rushing
They’re probably not going to trade Sale. But if they do, its gonna cost the Cubs their top 3 prospects. Still want Sale?
I don’t see him costing the Cubs or any other team more than one top 100 prospect and a couple of mid-level guys.
Sale is 36 years old and only signed through the end of the season. While the team does have an $18 million option, he is still 36 years old. Can you name the last pitcher 37 year old and not on steroids to pitch a qualifying number of innings with an ERA under 3.50? There have only been 6 during this century under a 4.00 ERA. Not great odds that he will be any good in 2026.
Didn’t Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer just do it like a couple years ago?
Verlander did at age 39. Not at 37 or 38. Scherzer didn’t have enough innings to qualify at age 37 in 2022 and in 2023, his age 38 seasons, he had a 3.77 ERA. Obviously his health and performance has fallen off a cliff since then.
Starting pitchers that are able to both stay healthy and effective past 36 are unicorns.
If you consider backend older pitchers are now making $12M+ on one-year contracts, the $18M for Sale’s ’26 option is an easy yes for his potential ceiling.
Probably cost Cubs one of Caissie/Alcantara and top P.
Def not top 3 Prospects
Bless your heart
Their 3 top prospects? Only cost Atlanta a very average 2b prospect they had zero use for!
Probably cost them a top 100 but not 3.
The corpse of Charlie Morton got like 15m so Sale is quite the bargain.
But they dobt have to move him. So they’re only going to do it if they’re blown away. Plus they know the Cubs have 6 guys in the top 100. This isn’t a pure rental – he has another year at a reasonable salary. Age doesn’t matter. He’s one of the two best pitchers in the game b right now.
Way over the top return man…
If the Braves don’t get multiple top 100 prospects then they should not trade Sale… Unless that top 100 prospect was a top 10 overall prospect. Then maybe, maybe they settle for 1 top 100 prospect.
The reigning CY Young pitcher, that is in the CY Young talk this year as well, and will be paid ONLY $18M in 2026 should bring a lot back
And there is zero chance Sale gets traded for 1 top 100 and 2 mids. That’s the point. They will not trade him unless they are blown away with an offer because if they do, they will have to replace him in the offseason. The Braves will not be rebuilding. With what starters are getting now Sale is an absolute bargain and after a rough 5-6 start stretch to start the season, he is back to being one of the best in the game. Would make absolutely no sense to trade him for anything less than a huge overpay.
Sale to the cubs is what I see they have the upper level prospects. Horton would be a must.
No chance Horton or anyone on the roster sans the 25/26th man is going back for Sale. Maybe Birdsell or one at AAA.
Yeah any top thirty Cuba prospect is a fire hof player and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise
Butter Biscuits
Sale to the cubs is what I see they have the upper level prospects. Horton would be a must.
=========================
1-Why would the Cubs trade an SP for an SP?
2-Zero chance of 6.5 years of Horton for 1.5 years of Sale.
MLBTR should get Sale on a podcast – “Sale on Sale on Sale”
Back to Boston for Story and a young arm? Did I eat the whole gummy?
Ate the gummy, the brownie, tinctured your lemonade and ran the bong dry.
Filthy bongwater is a part of every healthy diet.
A well-known stinky secret(ion).
So you’re saying I have a chance?
I would. This upcoming class of free agent starters is pretty good so finding a replacement might not be too hard.
It will be hard to get one when the Braves don’t spend high on FAs.
JD – Sale has been the 2nd-best pitcher in MLB since the start of last season. And he’s making only $18M next year.
Zero chance he can be replaced with someone even close to that good.
breslow’s lack of experience was put on full display by AA last year. One of the dumber moves by a GM in recent history. Your team desperately needs starting pitching, your system has plenty of middle infielders AND you’re supposedly on a “budget”. SMH
Ghost – So true!To make matters worse, he’s ruining Grissom. Why didn’t he trade him last off-season? Between Hamilton, Rafaela, Story, Campbell and Mayer they already have plenty of 2B coverage. Burying Grissom is ridiculous.
Fpg don’t you think trading grissom last off-season would have been selling very low and extremely short-sighted? He was injured so much on 2024 that was hardly representative of his potential value..i think breslow took the wise approach to let him build back value then deal him since he still has a massive amount of team control
Lol yea like AA’S moves are looking so great the Braves are gonna be sellers
Sale had injury problems from 2018 to 2023. I was happy Breslow traded him. The big mistake was Dombrowski giving Sale the huge contract.
FPG: “he’s ruining Grissom”
==================
What? Grissom is in AAA and doing ok. He is just not that good…like your posts.
When was the last time the Braves signed a big time free agent? Let alone one as risky as a starting pitcher.
I would say yes but only settle for a kings ransom which should be attainable.
Yes.
No, because he is their best pitcher. Yes, because this team is an overhaul.
Trade – Braves will not be having a rebuild next year, they will be in GFIN mode yet again. Which means keep Sale.
Of course they should. One of the worst teams in baseball and going nowhere. They also have the worst farm system in the game so they definitely should trade Sale.
But a few years back, Alex Anthopaulos was hands down the best GM in baseball. I argued with Braves fans about that and they believed he magically changed for the better.
They should listen on every one.
Finish this sentence: Ozuna and Sale to the Padres for _________?
The friar himself
Padres are getting Heaney
The ghost of Tony Gwynn
DeVries, Pivetta
Free McDonald’s for life because the Padres don’t have prospects to get that deal done
He wouldn’t bring back a king’s ransom at the TDL. He would only be a rental. He will get dealt.
Sale’s contract has a team option for 2026 so no, he wouldn’t be a pure rental for any acquiring team.
He is 36 years old. All 36 year old players are rentals because of the typical precipitous decline in performance for players that age.
Assuming he finishes 2025 not on the IL, definitely not a rental.
How many 35 y/o have won the pitching Triple Crown…or even the Cy Young? What else does Sale have to do to convince peeps he is that guy?
If you are trading for Sale you are doing so with the expectation of keeping him next season, so barring a collapse or a serious injury he’s not a rental
OF COURSE, they should.
If they trade Ozuna this year, Murphy in the off season and spend $15-20 on the bullpen they’d be a WS competitor next year.
They get better by losing 2 of their best players and wasting $ on relievers?
Ozuna is a FA and Baldwin is a C. They could keep Murphy and have them split c/DH but Profar will also be returning. Point being they have 2 good assets that can be moved to improve elsewhere like LF and the bullpen. With the investment in all the core players why not invest in one more year with Sale and Acuna.
Yeah sure and ifs buts we’re candy and nuts we’d all have a merry Christmas.
If Sale is a “true” Game 1 playoff starter…
What happened in 2024?
He was injured
Precisely my point. He’s NOT a true Game 1 starter. Availability is the best ability.
Then there is no such thing as a Game 1 starter, since so many pitchers are injured by October.
Bingo! ..
Cue the overhyped Yankees prospect packages
And Cubs
They can listen all they want but unless they get blown away by an offer it’s not gonna happen, he’s still signed for next year.
Gentle FYI: “optimism” is positivity above what is solidly justified. The way the Braves felt back when they were back to .500 with Acuna and Strider on the way back, by definition, wasn’t “optimism”, because positivity at that point was very much justified. In these kinds of situations, I like to say folks were feeling “bullish”!
Gotta be a pretty elite offer.
How’s vaughn grissom and cash sound for sale sale?
Rockies could offer a nice package.
They probably could but they won’t. It’s not their style.
WHAT? The whole team?
“Passengers Certain to Die!”
“Airline Negligent!”
“There’s a sale at Penney’s!”
Dollander and Tovar? To much?
Probably like Tovar, Condon and a lottery ticket. But o don’t think the Braves would send Sale there.
Well, it wouldn’t make any sense for the Rockies to do that though
Sale is signed through next year. He’s one of the best pitchers the Braves traded for. The extension is working. No Sale
Vaughn Grissom should be available.
The Braves shouldn’t sell at all. After they sweep the Rockies this weekend, they will only be 6 games under .500. And on top of that, they have Acuna back playing at an MVP level. Their team is still really good. Profar is coming back from suspension as well. Maybe just pick a couple of fresh arms for the pen or something.
Article just for fun. Very few difference making players will be traded in June. Even in July most will be late July. Atlanta has over a month to decide.
ATL is heating up!
the window for our run is on the backend… everyone should be on the trading block.. we got a WS out of it so that rebuild was successful.. now time to do it again… this team just doesnt have it… braves should be able to get a kings ransom for alot of our players especially with team friendly contracts
C’mon Ross….the Jays need another lefty…
I think there’s little doubt Detroit is looking for another SP after losing Jobe to TJ and knowing Cobb isn’t going to be reliable. I could see them deal for Sale. He makes a lot of sense on that team. What a rotation that would be: Skubal-Sale-Flaherty-Mize-Olsen.
Sure, but if the Marlins can get Connor Norby and Stowers for Trevor Rogers, the Braves shouldn’t get anything less than in big league player in return and a top prospect close to making his MLB debut. Sick of teams just GIVING MLB players away to clutter your farm system with AA relieving pitchers with an ERA of 4,50 and a hitter that won’t see the light of day when it comes to being an every day MLB player.. stop it with this minor league crap in return for bigger players
Certainly they should listen. Sale has been way better what most people expected when the trade happened, but it would be better to cash in that value unless:
1) the Braves make a furious run to get back into contention this year or 2) they plan to spend to bring in enough help for next year.
The injury concern can’t be ignored either.
Trade to Boston for Marquis Gridsom.
I remember when Chris Sale used to go over to Brad Penny’s house.
There’s a Sale at Penny’s!
A Fire Sale?
I’ll be here all week folks.
No, if 2025 ain’t it hold on to an Ace. Lost Max this past offseason and it stings. The price they have on that club option is a steal for what he gives you. On the open market he is 25M plus.
Two, three years ago, Braves fans raved how Alex Anthopaulos was the best executive in baseball.
Then they found out what blue Jay fans knew lol in the 5 seasons as GM of the blue Jay’s they had exactly one good season..his last one..AA being smart immediately traded up on that small victory and left town for greener pastures…genuis..lol sure
Sure, you win a WS and that happens. The only reason we have Sale is a ballsy move by AA that has paid off (I mean, he extended Sale before throwing a pitch for ATL…), mostly b/c they are a franchise they will not pay premium dollars for top-of-rotation SP.
Anyone thinking they will move on from Sale without a replacement (while Lopez/AJSS are out extended periods of time) and a king’s ransom that most teams will not pay b/c of Sale’s age and injury history, is sorely mistaken.
Send him anywhere but Boston. He’d get hurt stepping off the plane at Logan Airport.
Dont send him to Philly either. Dombrowski would give him a 6 year contract with opt outs every 20 mins.
Sale, Ozuna and Murphy are the guys they should definitely move. Murphy may not get a lot to return but to free the payroll would be good. Sale and Ozuna will both bring back quality assets. The later can free up DH to keep Acuna healthier.
“Ozuna is raking”
Is he really though? I mean he’s not hitting terribly, I just feel this is hyperbole.
1-Atlanta has 10 games coming up against the NYM and Philly. I’s see if they can take 6-10.
2-Strider is 0-5, but should be a lot better than that. If he can turn it around by the end of the month, then that should be a top-tier rotation.
3-Atlanta has gone 0-10 in their last 10 one-run games. Had they gone 5-5, the article would be about adding, not selling.
My answer would be to wait. And even then, I’d have to see a substantial package.