There is no disputing that the Atlanta Braves are in a poor situation right now.
After suffering numerous devastating injuries in the first half, the Braves are 9-12 in July and have dropped seven of their last ten games. For a crowd accustomed to seeing Atlanta dominate over the last few years, this has been a difficult club to watch recently.
However, Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has a well-deserved reputation for performing wonders around the trade deadline. Many Atlanta supporters are hopeful that he will be able to make acquisitions as the Braves did in 2021, when players like Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, and Eddie Rosario powered them to a World Series triumph.
This is a radically different trade market from 2021, with fewer suppliers and even fewer impact players to pick from. However, MLB source Jon Morosi’s report on the Braves’ deadline preparations included some positive news about injured Braves pitcher Max Fried.
The Braves are not expected to acquire an impact starter before Tuesday's deadline, in part because they believe Max Fried will return from the IL relatively soon.@MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 28, 2024
Braves Rumors: Max Fried’s impending return influencing Atlanta’s trade deadline plans
When Max Fried developed neuritis in his throwing arm, there was apparent cause for concern. The ailment can sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem, particularly for pitchers. Given how much time Fried missed last year due to arm problems, it was reasonable to question if he would be out for a long period and whether the Braves would utilize the trade deadline to add rotation depth.
However, it appears that the Braves have dodged the worst-case situation with Fried. While Morosi did not provide a precise date for Fried’s comeback, the fact that he specifically stated that he is likely to return soon is a positive omen. With Reynaldo Lopez and Chris Sale proving to be significant additions to the Braves’ rotation, and Spencer Schwellenbach off to a strong start in his big league career, focusing on other areas of the club before the deadline makes a lot of sense, provided Fried returns from the IL soon.
The real question is, what moves will the Braves make before the deadline. They appear to have lost a good opportunity when Randy Arozarena went to the Mariners for a very cheap price, and there aren’t many outfielders on the trade market that inspire much confidence. With the deadline only a few days away, fans will simply have to wait and see if AA has another miracle up his sleeves.
