TL;DR
- Atlanta Braves are a prime candidate to acquire pitcher Paul Skenes.
- The Braves meet requirements: proven roster, farm system, and player development.
- Atlanta could secure Skenes for five years and reassess contract later.
- Acquiring Skenes is difficult due to his value and team control.
If there's any truth behind the Pittsburgh Pirates potentially moving on from right-hander Paul Skenes, there’s a short list of teams that could realistically trade for him.
Among the potential options, some believe the Atlanta Braves could be in the mix.
The Braves, aiming to regain their status as a top Major League Baseball team, would significantly benefit from adding a player like Skenes to their roster. FOX Sports recently identified the Braves as a prime candidate for acquiring the right-handed pitcher when analyzing potential trade scenarios.
FOX also noted that if Atlanta had reservations about Skenes' future cost, they could secure him for five years and then reassess.
“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...
“Coming off a season that saw Atlanta miss the playoffs for the first time in eight years – and it still having not won a playoff series since the 2021 World Series – there should be a sense of urgency to get back on track. Worst-case scenario, the numbers get too high for Atlanta's liking on a potential extension with Skenes, and it tries to capitalize on the five full seasons that it has him,” FOX wrote.
Does Atlanta possess the necessary assets to acquire Paul Skenes?
The question in any Skenes trade is whether a team has enough to trade for the best starter in Major League Baseball, who is only 23 years old and still has five years of full control left.
Unfortunately for the Braves and other teams around the league, there really isn't a great path to land him, even if Pittsburgh makes him available at some point.
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