The Atlanta Braves still have a strong starting rotation, but there is a huge void in the middle.
Last week, Max Fried, a two-time Braves All-Star, signed with the New York Yankees for an eight-year, $218 million contract that Atlanta would never match. Fried had placed neatly behind ace Chris Sale in the Braves’ 2024 rotation, but now the team must rearrange things around.
Atlanta is still in relatively good form, thanks to Spencer Strider’s injury return and the consistent play of Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach. However, given none of those three are guaranteed to throw 150+ innings in 2025, adding one additional rotation arm makes a lot of sense.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have emerged as a trade target because they have developed pitching considerably more effectively than hitting. One of Pittsburgh’s starters, Luis Ortíz, has already been traded to the Cleveland Guardians, but another player could follow suit.
Recently, FanSided’s John Buhler proposed a trade that would send Pirates starter and 2023 All-Star Mitch Keller to Atlanta. In exchange, the Pirates would receive Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic and top pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep.
“What if the Braves called upon a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates to make a trade?” Buhler explained. “Given that the Pirates are stacked in the rotation, they could rebuild the rest of their roster with lesser known commodities on the rise.”
“(Jared) Jones may not cost as much as Keller, given that he only recently finished his rookie season with Pittsburgh.” Keller is slightly older and has been named to the MLB All-Star team.”
Keller is in year two of a five-year, $77 million contract deal he signed with Pittsburgh. He had an unspectacular 4.25 ERA in 31 starts this season, but he has thrown 372 1/3 innings since the beginning of 2023, which is a highly desirable commodity in today’s game.
It appears prudent to disregard the Jones argument, as there is no possibility a 23-year-old with five years of team control would cost less in a trade than a 28-year-old still owing $72 million. Would Buehler’s planned Waldrep and Kelenic package close the deal in Pittsburgh?
If that happens, the Braves will have a new start in left field, perhaps allowing them to make more moves while also securing a dependable rotation arm for the foreseeable future.
