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Braves’ Slow Start Sparks Wild Austin Riley Trade Chatter — But a Deal Isn’t Happening

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Lentz | Last updated Apr 17, 2025 1:38 PM ET

Austin Riley is swinging a hot bat to open the 2025 season. The Atlanta Braves? Not so much. And as the losses pile up early, the MLB trade rumor mill is already doing what it does best — spiraling.

Riley launched his fifth home run of the season Tuesday night against the Blue Jays, raising his average to .300 in the process. But it wasn’t enough to avoid another defeat as the Braves dropped to 5-12, continuing one of their worst starts in recent memory.

Enter: the speculation.

In a recent column, The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty casually floated Riley’s name in a broader discussion about trade targets for the New York Yankees. While the core of the piece centered on Miami ace Sandy Alcantara, Kuty threw out the idea of teams like the Yankees “cherry-picking” from underperforming clubs — namely, Atlanta — if things continue to trend downward.

“The Yankees (and many other teams) surely would like the idea of Austin Riley,” Kuty wrote.

Let’s be clear: there’s no actual reporting that the Braves are shopping Riley. There’s no indication from the Yankees or any team that talks have even begun. This is pure speculation — but in today’s content cycle, that’s all it takes to launch a social media frenzy.

And it’s easy to see why Riley’s name would draw interest. The two-time All-Star owns a career .272 average with an .840 OPS and has developed into one of the league’s most consistent middle-of-the-order threats. On 28 or 29 other teams, he'd be the focal point of the offense.

But the idea that the Braves would entertain trading Riley at this point — or any point soon — borders on absurd.

Why? Let’s start with the contract. Riley signed a 10-year, $212 million deal in August 2022 that locks him in through 2032, with a $20 million club option for 2033. For a player of his caliber, that’s not just manageable — it’s a bargain. In a sport where cost-controlled stars are gold, Riley is Atlanta’s cornerstone, not trade bait.

Rebuilding teams move veterans with expiring deals to recoup future assets. Riley is 27, signed long-term, and still producing. The Braves may be struggling, but they aren’t planning an eight-year rebuild. And unless something drastically changes, Riley isn’t going anywhere.

Even so, until Atlanta starts winning games, the trade talk — however far-fetched — won’t stop. The best way to silence it?

Win baseball games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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