Braves predicted to trade for $6M NL rival southpaw with dynamic arsenal, potential Chris Sale heir

Hunter Cookston

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Braves predicted to trade for $6M NL rival southpaw with dynamic arsenal, potential Chris Sale heir image

The Atlanta Braves entered the offseason with a clear plan, and so far, the organization has exceeded expectations—unlike the New York Mets. Atlanta has landed two of the top free-agent relievers in Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez. The only remaining position left to address is the final starting spot in the rotation.

“Anthopoulos said shortstop, bullpen and rotation are among the areas they'll discuss addressing this winter,” AJC’s Gabe Burns reported.

The Braves aren’t just looking for a back-end rotation arm; they want someone reliable when October arrives in 2026. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has been aggressive this offseason, and there is no sign of him slowing down.

“We’ve explored the starting rotation, adding and getting some type of starter, whether that’s trade or signing. We’d like for it to be someone impactful, someone we think can start a playoff game,” Anthopoulos said, noting the team is in a good place with their current starters.

If the Braves decide to pursue a trade, an NL East rival may have a name worth monitoring. The Washington Nationals could make left-hander MacKenzie Gore available.

“Trading within the division is always more complicated, but it’s not impossible. The Nationals appear committed to moving off much of their core and entering another full rebuild, with MacKenzie Gore attracting the most interest. From a pure arm-talent standpoint, Gore is among the best in baseball, but he hasn’t quite put everything together over a full season, even after being named an All-Star while posting a 4.17 ERA across 30 starts this year. With two years of team control remaining, it would take a significant haul to land the southpaw, but the Braves have plenty of pitching prospects at their disposal to construct a competitive offer,” Sports Talk ATL’s Chase Irle wrote.

Landing Gore would be a strong way for the Braves to put a bow on an already impressive offseason, but a division rival trading its top arm within the NL East remains unlikely. Still, if it were to happen, Atlanta would be in an excellent position moving forward.

Veteran starter Chris Sale could serve as an ideal mentor for Gore. With Sale entering the final year of his contract, Gore could eventually be viewed as a long-term replacement in the rotation.

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