Jim Bowden’s trade hypothetical for Marcell Ozuna

Just last week, Alex Anthopoulos emphatically let the world know that the Braves would not be selling in an interview with 680 The Fan.

“We’re not selling,” the Braves GM said. “A month from now, we are 30 games under or something crazy, I guess I would reconsider. I’ve been in the postseason personally — talking about myself, totally selfishly — ten seasons in a row. I don’t remember what it feels like to not be contending.”

Of course, things have changed dramatically since then. Even with the Braves going 4-2 last week, they suffered yet another catastrophic injury, one that really might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. An MRI revealed Chris Sale suffered a fractured rib cage when diving for a ball in the ninth inning of last Wednesday’s game. He was immediately placed on the 15-day IL, and it’s reasonable to expect he’ll miss at least the next 1-2 months.

The Braves have absorbed a litany of gut-punches over the course of the last two seasons, and seemingly every time, they punch back. But one would think that can’t be the case for much longer. If the Braves can’t figure out a way to make up ground between now and the trade deadline, Alex Anthopoulos might have to rethink his stance on selling, and the one name that is most likely to be moved is Marcell Ozuna, given he is in the final year of his contract.

In a recent piece for The Athletic, Jim Bowden cooked up a trade hypothetical between the Braves and Rangers, sending the Big Bear to the Texas Rangers for left-handed pitching prospect Kohl Drake.

9. Rangers — Acquire DH Marcell Ozuna from Braves for LHP Kohl Drake

The Rangers’ offense has been inconsistent this season, and it looks like they need an impact middle-of-the order bat. Ozuna would be a potential solution if the Braves decide to sell at the trade deadline. (They are 5 1/2 games out of the final NL wild-card spot but are still five games below .500.).Ozuna, 34, is slashing .253/.381/.418 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs. He’s ranked fourth in the majors in walks (52) and is on pace to set a career high. Ozuana batted .302 with 39 homers and 104 RBIs last year and will be a free agent after this season.

In return, the Braves would acquire Drake, an 11th-round pick in 2022, who has a 2.74 ERA over 11 starts with 68 strikeouts and 20 walks in 49 1/3 innings this season at Double A. Law ranked Drake, 24, 11th in the Rangers’ farm system entering this season.

The Braves are unlikely to sell for a couple of reasons, but a primary factor is they don’t have much to sell that’s going to completely change the state of their farm system. Marcell Ozuna might bring back one mid-level prospect, but that’s not enough for the club to punt on their season if there is any chance for them to make a postseason push.

Perhaps the Braves could listen on Sean Murphy, but again, the return would not be anything ridiculous. Selling Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II, or Austin Riley right now would be foolish, given their values have never been lower. The Braves would never trade a talent like Ronald Acuña Jr, and Anthopoulos also said there is zero percent chance they trade Chris Sale, which is all but confirmed now that he is injured.

It’s really imperative the Braves get themselves into a position to buy over the next month, because selling isn’t much of an option with the way most of their All-Star talents have performed so far this season.