There seems to be little chance that the Braves are even taking into consideration any of the best starting pitchers still available as more dominoes start to fall in free agency.

It appears as though the Braves aren’t even giving any of the best starting pitchers still available a second thought as more dominoes start to fall in free agency. It appears that if they are going to increase their rotation, it will be through trade, and after the holidays, those discussions should really get going.

The Braves have been connected to several of the top names on the trade market, like Dylan Cease and Corbin Burnes. Both of them would be unbelievable additions, giving Atlanta one of the top rotations in the league to pair with their historically great offense. However, every competitive team with good prospects will be calling about Cease and Burnes. That’s not going to be easy for Alex Anthopoulos to pull off, but perhaps he goes back to a familiar place this time of year.

The Oakland Athletics are still rebuilding and should be looking to offload their veteran pieces. That’s what Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has Alex Anthopoulos doing in his latest piece.

Atlanta and Oakland Make Yet Another Trade

 

Atlanta Braves Receive: LHP Paul Blackburn (two years of arbitration eligibility remaining)

Oakland Athletics Receive: RHP JR Ritchie (No. 35 pick in 2022 MLB draft; No. 6 in Atlanta’s farm system, per MLB.com)

The offseason isn’t complete until Atlanta and Oakland make a significant trade.

Last year around this time was the big Sean Murphy three-team deal. The previous March was when the A’s sent Matt Olson to Atlanta. And, well, now it’s time for Oakland to give Atlanta a starting pitcher a couple years before he hits free agency so the Braves can maybe sign him to a long-term extension, too.

Paul Blackburn’s overall numbers over the past two seasons haven’t been fantastic—4.35 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 8.1 K/9—but he has had some promising prolonged stretches.

He had a 2.26 ERA 13 starts into the 2022 campaign and ended up representing Oakland in the All-Star Game. In the second half of this past season, there was an eight-start run in which Blackburn had a 2.30 ERA and made five quality starts.

Perhaps Atlanta can get him to turn the corner for good, and he certainly wouldn’t cost the Braves anywhere near what it would run them to acquire Dylan Cease from the White Sox, as has been oft speculated over the past month.

Though the trade simulator grades this one as almost as perfectly even as it can get, it does feel like Atlanta is giving up a little more in this one-for-one swap. But when all six of your top prospects are right-handed pitchers, it’s not the end of the world to part with the sixth-best one who is probably 3-4 years away from reaching the majors.

Another significant trade with the Athletics would be comical at this point; however, I’m not sure Oakland would be interested in dealing with Alex Anthopoulos again. The past two trades for Matt Olson and Sean Murphy look terrible for them to this point.

I also don’t know if the Braves would be very interested in Paul Blackburn. He’s had his moments, which led to him being named an All-Star in 2022 after a terrific first half, but he’s not much better, if at all than what the Braves currently have on their staff in the form of Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver. Anthopoulos should have no problem giving up a prospect like JR Ritchie for something that can help the team win now. He’s well away from making an impact at the major-league level. I just don’t think Blackburn moves the needle.