The Atlanta Braves are presently one of the favorites to enter the playoffs, with one of Major League Baseball’s top records and the first Wild Card berth in the National League.
However, the future appears uncertain. The Braves are missing several key players due to injuries, including All-Stars Ozzie Albies (10-day disabled list) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (season-ending injury).
Atlanta could use all the aid it can get right now. According to Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, this puts the Braves in the running to sign Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, one of MLB’s greatest pitchers.
“Atlanta has weathered the storm since losing Spencer Strider to Tommy John surgery, but now Max Fried is hurt and [Charlie] Morton (age) and [Chris] Sale and [Reynaldo] López (workload) have their own concerns,” Rymer told ESPN.
Unfortunately, one thing stands in the way of Atlanta acquiring the All-Star pitcher: prospects. Compared to other teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles, the Braves lack the prospects to trade for a pitcher of Skubal’s caliber. Furthermore, Atlanta requires more bats than pitchers.
This might be a dangerous time for Braves fans, especially when the playoffs are so close. Atlanta won the World Series the last time Acuña was injured and they had to rely on other players. Perhaps 2024 will see a replay of those events.