Atlanta Braves: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Braves make two notable roster moves on Thursday

The Braves made a couple of notable roster moves on Thursday — one involving the major-league club, the other tied to one of their injured pitchers. Eli White has been activated from the paternity list, and in a corresponding move, José Azócar has been designated for assignment.

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Braves at Pirates chat and discussion: Bryce Elder vs. Mitch Keller

Somehow, someway, there are only four games left in the first half of the 2026 Braves season. Time flies when you’re having fun (except for the whole last month-plus of it all).

AJ Smith-Shawver News / Battery Power / July 9

AJ Smith-Shawver’s rehab assignment moves up to Triple-A

It appears that the Atlanta Braves are getting closer to having one of their pitchers back in the fold. Following a couple of rehab starts with the Augusta GreenJackets, AJ Smith-Shawver will now be facing an upgrade in competition as he’s been moved from Single-A to Triple-A.

Kyle Schwarber News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Active MLB XBH leaders' quiz

How many of the active MLB players to rack up at least 500 extra base hits in their career can you name in five minutes?

The 'MLB All-Star Game MVPs' quiz

The 'MLB active HR leaders' quiz

The 'Active 200-K season leaders' quiz

Atlanta Braves News / Battery Power / July 9

A Look into Ronit Shah’s Drafts

It might be hard to believe it’s been this long already, but this is already going to be Ronit Shah’s fourth draft leading the Atlanta Braves amateur talent evaluations since Dana Brown left to take over the Astros GM role early in 2023.

MLB News / Yardbarker

25 MLB players most likely to be traded by the deadline

The MLB Trade Deadline has been quieter in recent years, in part due to playoff expansion, but 2026 is shaping up to be a more exciting one with several big names.

MLB News / SportsTalkATL / July 9

Ken Rosenthal: Braves are targeting Sonny Gray trade

With several massive holes in their rotation, the Braves have no choice but to be aggressive in their pursuit of starting pitching leading up to the trade deadline.

Matt Olson News / Battery Power / July 9

Matt Olson tying franchise consecutive games record in Braves’ finale at Pirates

There aren’t sweeping changes to the Braves’ lineup for Thursday afternoon’s series finale at the Pittsburgh Pirates. In fact, the top five hitters in the lineup are exactly the same as from Wednesday’s 3-0 win.

Atlanta Braves News / SportsTalkATL / July 9

Move over Eric Hartman: Alex Lodise is the Braves’ hottest prospect

For much of the first half, Eric Hartman and Tate Southisene grabbed all the headlines on the farm — and for good reason. Hartman is making history just a couple of years after being drafted in the 20th round.

Atlanta Braves News / Atlanta Braves on SI / July 9

Braves Return Eli White From Paternity List, DFA Outfielder

The Atlanta Braves made an adjustment to their lineup on Thursday morning. The team announced that Eli White was reinstated from the paternity list, and José Azócar had been designated for assignment.

Atlanta Braves News / MLB Trade Rumors / July 9

Braves Designate José Azócar For Assignment

The Braves announced Thursday that outfielder José Azócar has been designated for assignment. His roster spot goes to fellow righty-swinging outfielder Eli White, who has been reinstated from the paternity list.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 MLB players who could be first-time All-Stars in 2026

Being named to the Midsummer Classic is one of the biggest honors for MLB players. These 25 players have a chance to make their first All-Star appearance in 2026 based on their first-half performances.

Grant Holmes News / SportsTalkATL / July 9

Is Grant Holmes the Braves second best starting pitcher?

Looking to snap a three-game skid, the Braves sent Grant Holmes to the mound against Jared Jones — a matchup that turned into an unexpected duel between two arms who haven’t exactly had All-Star caliber 2026 campaigns.

MLB News / Athlon Sports / July 9

NRFI, YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First Inning Predictions for Thursday, July 9

Atlanta Braves RHP Bryce Elder was an All-Star in 2023 but has struggled the last couple of seasons. He has begun to revive his career this season and looks to cash an NRFI against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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The '2026 American League All-Stars' quiz

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The 'Wimbledon men's champions' quiz

Victor Mederos News / Battery Power / July 9

Victor Mederos to Atlanta, win in Pittsburgh, more

Since this is my last pre-draft article, I’ll take a minute to discuss what I’d like to see in the Braves’ upcoming draft class. The franchise has a huge opportunity to add talent this weekend, picking in the top 10 and again at 26, thanks to Drake Baldwin’s Prospect Promotion Incentive pick for winning NL Rookie of the Year.

MLB News / Field Level Media / July 8

Joey Bart, Braves win after Pirates lift Jared Jones (6 perfect IP)

Joey Bart's eighth-inning two-run home run against his former team put the Atlanta Braves on course for a 3-0 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Grant Holmes News / Battery Power / July 8

Braves blank Buccos as Grant Holmes pitches five shutout innings

Despite getting completely and totally blanked for the first six innings of this contest, the Atlanta Braves eventually broke through and ended up pulling off a 3-0 victory in an excellent pitching performance from Grant Holmes and Atlanta’s bullpen.

MLB News / Yardbarker / July 8

Pirates removing Jared Jones leads to historic loss

Pirates removing Jared Jones after perfect start leads to historic loss

For the second time in a week, a young pitcher in Major League Baseball was lifted late in a game while working on a perfect game.

Paul Skenes jokingly calls Pirates teammate 'selfish' after three-HR game

Andy Green had a blunt reaction to the Mets' pitching disaster

Yankees offense in rare slump after strikeout-riddled performance

Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt rips himself as worrisome slump continues

Pete Crow-Armstrong first to join 20-20 club in 2026, makes Cubs history

Atlanta Braves News / SportsTalkATL / July 8

Braves’ collapse has turned the NL East into a free-for-all

The last six weeks have completely erased all the good the Braves did over the first two months of the season. A 10.5-game lead has withered to just 2.0 — and it could be gone entirely by the time the All-Star break arrives.

Atlanta Braves News / Athlon Sports / July 8

Atlanta Braves Demote Player After Third Straight Loss

Connor Thomas' stay with the Atlanta Braves lasted just one game. The 28-year-old left-hander was optioned back to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday after allowing four earned runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings during Tuesday night's 12-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Atlanta Braves News / MLB on ClutchPoints / July 8

Braves rumors: Why ‘alarm bells’ may cause Atlanta to make specific trade

The Atlanta Braves have been struggling as of late. They have lost 11 of their last 15 games, as they have seen their lead in the NL East slowly fade. The team has dealt with a rash of injuries, including injuries to the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr.

Alex Anthopoulos News / SportsTalkATL / July 8

Alex Anthopoulos ignored the Braves’ rotation, and it’s backfiring again

The Braves can’t find any momentum. They’ve been among the worst teams in baseball since the start of June, and it feels like there’s a different culprit every night.

Atlanta Braves News / Athlon Sports / July 8

Braves Legend Chipper Jones Sends Austin Riley Message Amid Disappointing Season

Chipper Jones has a diagnosis for what is ailing Austin Riley, and he shared it publicly after working with the struggling third baseman. The Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer joined the Cellini & Dimino show on 680 The Fan and offered a technical breakdown of what he sees going wrong with Riley's swing.

Atlanta Braves News / MLB Trade Rumors / July 7

Braves Select Connor Thomas, Release Daysbel Hernández

The Braves announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contract of lefty Connor Thomas from Triple-A Gwinnett. (Jesus Cano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thomas’ promotion shortly before the formal announcement.) Righty Owen Murphy was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to open an active roster spot.

Rowdy Tellez News / MLB Trade Rumors / July 7

Braves To Re-Sign Rowdy Tellez On Minor League Deal

The Braves re-signed first baseman/designated hitter Rowdy Tellez to a new minor league contract, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Primo Sports Group client was designated for assignment by Atlanta last week and outrighted to Triple-A over the weekend.

Owen Murphy News / New Baseball Media / July 6

What to Expect from Braves Pitcher Owen Murphy

Earlier this year, Braves fans received their first look at JR Ritchie, who’s worked as both a starter and reliever with Atlanta this season. Now, Owen Murphy is primed to join Ritchie, as the Braves officially promoted the former first-round pick on July 6.