Braves add Tyler Mahle in trade with the Giants

Mahle has been a decent mid-rotation starter over the course of his 10-year MLB career. He’s not having the best of seasons this year, pitching to a 5.13 ERA over 18 starts, but his 4.38 FIP suggests he’s due for some positive regression, and he’s just a year removed from posting a 2.18 ERA over 16 starts with the Rangers.

It’s a decent depth move with the Braves essentially getting him for nothing in return, and it’s another indication that Reynaldo Lopez’s injury could be pretty serious after he was pulled from his start ahead of Saturday’s game with knee inflammation.

However, since the offseason, Alex Anthopoulos has gone on and on about adding a playoff-caliber starter to this roster. Mahle is not that — not even close. He’s eerily reminiscent of what the Braves already have in guys like Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, and Martin Perez. This is not a needle-mover, and if Atlanta doesn’t come away with something bigger before tomorrow’s deadline, fans have every right to be upset.