The Atlanta Braves' season is off to a difficult start on the whole, but it's hard to imagine them being trade deadline sellers.
After opening the year on a seven-game losing streak, the Braves have leveled out at 14-16. They could be above .500 by the end of the weekend, and by the end of May, it seems more likely than not that they will be.
So if we assume the Braves will be buyers instead, there is one main part of the roster they should look to upgrade before the Jul. 31 deadline: starting pitching.
The Braves have lost Spencer Strider and Reynaldo López to the injured list, the latter possibly until August or September. Meanwhile, Chris Sale is off to a shaky start after his Cy Young season.
On Thursday, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly named the Braves among the teams that could be in on Minnesota Twins ace Pablo López, who he predicted would be traded by the deadline.
"Given how thin the starting pitching market projects to be—especially if the Miami Marlins hold on to (Sandy) Alcántara—Pablo López could become one of the most attractive names available if the Twins are willing to consider offers for the 29-year-old righty," Miller wrote.
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"Who would be a fit? Well, probably just about every team in contention. We previously mentioned the Cubs, Mets, Yankees and Padres as possible fits for Alcántara. Those teams would make sense for López, should he be available, as could the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros."
López has returned from an early-season hamstring injury and pitched well in his two starts back. He has a season ERA of 2.25 through five starts, striking out 26 batters in 28 innings pitched.
The 2023 All-Star is a reliable innings eater who the Braves would be lucky to get their hands on. But there's no guarantee he'll get dealt with two-and-a-half years left on his $73.5 million extension.
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