It appeared to be a typical trade deadline for Alex Anthopoulos and the Atlanta Braves.
The deadline provides teams with the opportunity to address any roster gaps. It also offers teams the ability to bolster their roster for a postseason push. For the Braves, it was another deadline of operating on the margins. On one hand, that can be a positive to shore up depth. On the other hand, it limits the ability to add an instant-impact need on the roster.
Atlanta did make some positive additions, but it’s what they did not do that leaves an empty feeling.
The Braves Failed To Acquire a Frontline Starter
The Braves could have traded a few of their young pieces to acquire a frontline starter. While Atlanta doesn’t have a highly-regarded farm system, they do have rising young players who could have been moved.
There were many options the Braves could have moved for. Tarik Skubal was the biggest name, but there were a lot of other options Anthopoulos could have traded for.
Kevin Gausman, Robbie Ray and Casey Mize were among the many quality starting pitchers available. The Braves had a clear need for another high-level starter behind Chris Sale and didn’t address that need with an aspiring option.
On Aug. 2, Atlanta made a trade with the San Francisco Giants to acquire RHP Tyler Mahle in exchange for RHP Anthony Molina.
On the season, Mahle has a 3-9 record with a 5.13 ERA across 94.2 IP in 18 starts. On the surface, Mahle isn’t the best option, especially considering Ray was one of the top available.
Tyler Mahle Comes With Question Marks
What do the Braves see in Mahle? He has been better since returning from the IL in late June.
Last season with the Texas Rangers, Mahle had a 2.18 ERA and a 175 ERA+ in 86.2 IP across 16 starts. Perhaps Mahle can perform like his 2025 self with the Braves, but there are some concerns.
For a team trying to compete for a World Series, acquiring a 10-year veteran who has never pitched in a playoff game leaves a lot to be desired. Furthermore, since making 33 starts with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, Mahle has started just 65 games over the past four seasons.
In May 2023, Mahle had to undergo Tommy John surgery. He’s also had numerous shoulder injuries throughout his career, including one that landed him on the 60-day IL in 2025.
Mahle is currently the seventh-highest paid player on Atlanta’s active roster ($10 million). Simply put, the Braves had better options on the board, but they only had to trade Molina to make this deal happen.
Good Marginal Acquisitions
Atlanta desperately needed a right-handed hitting outfielder, and Lane Thomas is an excellent fit. Against LHP, Thomas has an .800 OPS with a 125 wRC+ in 135 plate appearances. For comparison, Mike Yastrzemski only has 35 plate appearances this season against LHP. The idea is for Yastrzemski and Thomas to platoon, with Thomas starting against LHP.
Along with Thomas, the Braves also acquired LHP Bailey Falter, also from the Kansas City Royals. Falter has a measly 13.97 ERA in five appearances. He has started 85 games throughout his six-year career. Falter hasn’t been on the Royals since May 26, as he has been starting games with their Triple-A affiliate. That’s where Falter will be when he joins the Braves organization as a depth starter.
LHP Brent Suter was the final piece added to the 26-man roster. Atlanta made another deal with the Los Angeles Angels to get Suter in the bullpen. He has a 4.12 ERA this season in 41 appearances out of the bullpen.
As expected, Suter is better against RHH, only allowing a .243 BAA versus right-handed batters. He is expected to be a heavily used reliever, as he ranks eighth among relief pitchers with 57.2 IP on the season. He is not expected to be a high-leverage guy, however, as he’s only pitched 3.1 innings in that situation this season.
To make room for Thomas, the Braves traded Eli White to the Red Sox in return for Tyler Uberstine, a pitcher who has only one career MLB appearance but is really good in AAA.
Belief in the Farm System
Anthopoulos will take a lot of criticism for not doing more than what he did. Things evolve and change as the deadline approaches. MLB teams expected Texas Rangers RHP Jacob DeGrom to be available amid a tough Rangers season. However, he has a no-trade clause and made it clear he wanted to stay in Texas.
Even as options go off the board, the Braves still have many tradeable prospects they chose to keep. While Atlanta does have a lot of good young arms in the farm system, they aren’t ready to make a real impact at the MLB level. Moreover, some of their other top pitchers have suffered major injuries that have affected their ability to pitch this season.
“We said no to a lot of things. That’s not easy to do. But you have to do what you feel is right for the organization,” Anthopoulos said. He specifically referenced a trade that he didn’t make a few years ago that would’ve involved Drake Baldwin.
Anthopoulos is very high on the young players in the organization, but holding onto them and hoping they develop may or may not work out in the Braves’ favor.
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