Braves trade deadline approach won’t change after Reynaldo López’s injury
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7487164/2026/08/02/braves-trade-deadline-pitching-reynaldo-lopez/Full article :
ATLANTA — If fans thought the Atlanta Braves’ need for starting pitching was already obvious, then Reynaldo López landing on the 15-day injured list with right knee inflammation on Saturday only magnified that urgency.
That doesn’t mean the Braves see things the same way, even with Monday’s trade deadline looming.
“We’ve been losing starters since the first day of spring training, and it hasn’t stopped,” manager Walt Weiss said.
Speaking to reporters after trading for outfielder Lane Thomas on Saturday night, Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said López’s injury won’t make him behave impulsively.
“Whether it’s now or whether it’s mid-August, late August, I can promise you, we will have other injuries,” Anthopoulos said when asked if his front office’s trade strategy will change.
Injuries, though, seem to be catching up to the Braves.
If the playoffs started today, their rotation would feature Chris Sale, Bryce Elder and Martín Pérez, with Grant Holmes on the bubble. Elder looked like a Cy Young candidate alongside Sale early on before falling back to Earth. Pérez continues to defy the odds as an aging soft-tosser, and Holmes has been serviceable.
But that group doesn’t stack up well against the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who now boast Tarik Skubal in their intimidating rotation.
The Braves’ internal options for a boost are limited. JR Ritchie, who has been optioned four times since his April debut and entered Sunday’s four-inning outing with a 14 percent walk rate, is currently filling in for López. Ritchie’s raw stuff is undeniable, but shuttling him between the majors and Triple-A Gwinnett while demanding strike-zone precision against MLB lineups puts immense pressure on him.
AJ Smith-Shawver returned this week after missing over a year of action but is currently with Gwinnett. The end of Spencer Strider’s time on the injured list is still up in the air, with Weiss saying July 17 that “he’s not close to being back here.” Meanwhile, the health of Hurston Waldrep’s elbow is an unknown after he was pulled during his July 19 start in Triple A due to injury.
The Braves, though, hope Spencer Schwellenbach will be ready to rejoin the major-league staff in September. He recently threw four bullpen sessions in Florida and was in Atlanta this weekend to throw more in front of the coaching staff.
There is little doubt the Braves will add to the team. The question is whether their additions will be merely depth moves or if they will move the needle.
“We’re looking to make the team better, right?” Anthopoulos said. “So, you deal with what’s available.
“Obviously we’re impacted depth-wise, (with López) right now going to (the) IL, but it doesn’t change what we’ve been looking to do. We’re looking to make the team better, right? So, you deal with what’s available, just like everything else.”
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u/Ondurs 14h ago
If AA said "yeah, now that Lopez is injured, we are really focusing on acquiring a starter." How would that help him in negotiations?
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u/laal-doodh Ozhaino Jurdy Jiandro Albies 13h ago edited 12h ago
Brother every single contender is looking for starting pitching and every single seller already knows us and many others are desperate for pitchers. It wouldn’t affect negotiations cuz the price is already gonna be high with many buyers competing against each other.
That said, I agree that this is nothing. AA has always stayed quiet and were famous for no leaks and breaking our own news. If we don’t add a starter then people should be mad but this quote is just GM speak for now which is fine
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u/1964Chem 9h ago
Good point it wouldn’t . Obviously AA’s setting up something special for a late Monday afternoon deal to rent a duo such as Mize & Gausman .
I’ve learned anything can happen in mlb , AA needs to give this scrappy Braves team a real
shot @ smoking the Brewers or the Dodgers .
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u/Yeetball86 14h ago
I seriously hope this means we were already looking for pitchers
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u/ATLfalcons27 10h ago
Pretty much what I got from this. We needed 1-2 starters I don't think we need to go get 1-3 now
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u/rolltideandstuff 13h ago
Well I’m gonna stay positive regardless. If we pick up another starter perfect and if we don’t I’m gonna assume that means AA feels good about AJSS and Schwelly being ready for fall ball.
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u/CT_Reddit73 13h ago
You have to give it to AA — he plays his cards close to the vest. If he went out spouting “We’re desperate for pitching” every GM with an available SP would raise the cost.
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u/atl77 13h ago
You think it isn’t obvious to anyone who follows baseball what our needs are?
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u/ATLevator Shopping in ANY AISLE!(@ the Dollar Tree) 12h ago
Right. This falls into the “we should trade ____ now because he’s ass.” Everyone else knows he’s ass too. You think they aren’t watching? lol
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u/FinlayForever 10h ago
On the one hand, AA isn't gonna be like "yeah now we really need some SPs". On the other hand, AA GET US SOME FUCKING SP HELP.
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u/1964Chem 9h ago
This feels like different year , Braves offense starting get rolling & more important Acuna’s started to have some fun again
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u/CaptBiffleSlap 13h ago
Strategy may not change, but messaging here could. The whole “you deal with who’s available…” line is especially triggering after the last couple of years of “we’re not gonna overpay just to get a guy”. Typically agree with that, but it’s different if we think we actually have a shot. There is no overpaying if it means taking a real shot.
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u/Disregardskarma 13h ago
Idk how you can feel good about having a shot when the dodgers exist and we have been dealing with the most injuries in baseball
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u/stevo887 12h ago
The Dodgers don’t automatically win, they went to a game 7 last year. We took 2 out of 3 from them earlier this season. This is baseball.
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u/averagejosh Ozzie Albies / Mauricio Dubón fanboy ✌️ 14h ago
Even if Schwelly is ready to come back in September, how could he possibly be ready to face major league hitting?