Braves blockbuster trade prediction lands $11.7M Cy Young winner, forming top-five MLB rotation

Hunter Cookston

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Braves blockbuster trade prediction lands $11.7M Cy Young winner, forming top-five MLB rotation image

The Atlanta Braves are shaping up to be a fun team to watch as free agency continues. There are several directions they could go, as they need relief help, starting pitching, a shortstop, and potentially a new designated hitter. However, only two of those needs are currently at the top of GM Alex Anthopoulos’ priority list.

“I would say starting pitcher and shortstop are what we’re spending the most time on right now,” Anthopoulos said.

The Braves have already added some organizational depth with minor league signings earlier in the week. Atlanta signed veteran Carlos Carrasco to a minor league contract, giving them insurance in case they run into another injury-plagued season like last year.

“The Atlanta Braves ensure veteran starting pitching depth remains in the system. According to Baseball America's Matt Eddy, they have re-signed Carlos Carrasco and Darius Vines to minor league contracts. Both finished the season with the Braves organization and opted to stick around even after opting for free agency,” SI’s Harrison Smajovitts wrote.

With the Braves prioritizing pitching, Fox Sports believes they could make an aggressive push for Paul Skenes.

“Any team that wishes to acquire Skenes has to meet three requirements: 1) they have a proven roster that the right-hander would put over the top, 2) they have a reputable farm system and 3) they have a resume of developing young players. The Braves check all three of those boxes,” Fox Sports wrote. “One could argue that Skenes would be Atlanta's best starting pitcher since its historic rotation trio of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. Anchoring a rotation that includes Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, a healthy Reynaldo Lopez and one of Spencer Schwellenbach and Grant Holmes – for this exercise, one of them is traded for Skenes – Skenes would give Atlanta a top-five starting rotation.”

Such a deal would give Atlanta one of the most formidable rotations MLB has ever seen. Adding Skenes to an already strong staff would make the Braves terrifying for opposing lineups.

Anthopoulos typically isn’t one to make blockbuster moves like this, but this opportunity may be too good to pass up. Having Skenes for the entirety of his career—while retaining their core starters—would make the Braves almost unfairly dominant.

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