Braves Predicted to Find Starting Pitching Help Within the Division at Trade Deadline

The Atlanta Braves are commonly expected to be hunting for rotation reinforcements at the trade deadline

The Atlanta Braves are commonly expected to be in the market for starting pitching at the deadline. 

If you think about it, that makes sense - the Braves are missing ace Spencer Strider, who led all of baseball in strikeouts last season and opened the year as the NL Cy Young favorite, after elbow surgery that will sideline him for the entirety of 2024. Strider’s injury means that Atlanta’s now counting on three veterans with various workload concerns, whether they be because they’re converted relievers (Reynaldo López), they’ve missed time due to injuries (Chris Sale), or they’re just old (Charlie Morton, who is the 2nd-oldest starting pitcher in baseball behind Houston’s Justin Verlander).  

Bleacher Report thinks they’ve figured out the easiest solution for Atlanta’s starting pitching woes at the deadline, linking them with division rival Miami to acquire Marlins Opening Day starter Jesús Luzardo. 

Luzardo, 26, is currently 0-2 with a 6.58 ERA in his first five starts of the season. He took a no-decision against Atlanta on April 14th in Miami, going five innings with five runs allowed on seven hits, walking one and striking out four. 

Here’s what Bleacher Report writer Tim Kelly said about the potential intra-division deal: 

Trades within the division are rare, but not as much as they used to be. If the Marlins were shopping Sandy Alcántara, they probably wouldn't want to trade him to a division rival. But while Jesus Luzardo is a solid pitcher, he's not a franchise icon, which would make trading him to the Atlanta Braves a little less painful.
With Spencer Strider out for the season, the Braves need to add front-line starting pitching as much as any contender in the league. President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos might prefer a right-handed option to go with lefties Max Fried and Chris Sale, but beggars can't be choosers. If Luzardo is the best pitcher available, the Braves need to be in on him.
A prospect-rich team like the Baltimore Orioles probably could put together an even more compelling trade package for the Marlins, but the Braves will probably be more motivated to get a deal done to address the top of their starting rotation. Not only would Luzardo improve their World Series chances in 2024, but he would also be insurance if the aforementioned Fried departs in free agency this upcoming offseason.
Miami doesn't need to trade Luzardo, but the club could maximize its return for him this summer, because of the lack of other enticing options on the market and his having a few remaining years of team control.
Bendix won't get his entire wish list, but the Braves have such a loaded lineup and a clear need to add pitching, so they may be willing to overpay a bit.
Miami should make Atlanta say no on giving up pitcher Hurston Waldrep, the Braves' No. 2 overall prospect. Pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach, shortstop Nacho Alvarez Jr. and catcher Drake Baldwin are among the other pieces in the Braves farm system that could make sense as part of a trade package for Luzardo.  

For what it’s worth, I agree that Atlanta would balk at an ask for Waldrep or fellow top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver, who are both expected to contribute at the major league level in 2024. I do like the idea of using catcher Drake Baldwin in the package - Miami’s struggled behind the plate ever since trading J.T. Realmuto to the Philadelphia Phillies after the 2018 season. 

Drake Baldwin, one of the top pitchers - while I’d rather swap Schwellenbach with J.R. Ritchie or Owen Murphy, I could live with Spencer being in the package - and another piece would hopefully be enough for Atlanta to secure the services of Luzardo for the next few seasons. Arbitration eligible for the 2nd time this season and making a salary of $5.5M, Luzardo’s status as a “Super 2” arbitration player means he has two more years of arbitration before reaching free agency after the 2026 season.