MLB Executives Predict 'Sleeper Team' for Tarik Skubal

The Braves certainly look like a World Series contender, with an MLB-best 48-28 record entering Monday's action. A major factor behind Atlanta's success is their pitching; their 3.40 ERA as a team is the best in the National League, and only the Yankees have a lower team ERA (3.35) across all of baseball.

Even with injuries to Spencer Strider and not seeing a single pitch thrown by Spencer Schwellenbach, the starting rotation's 3.76 ERA is the sixth-best in MLB, anchored by Chris Sale and Bryce Elder. Adding Skubal to the equation, however, would give the Braves a fearsome one-two-three punch atop their starting staff.

Compared to teams like the Dodgers, Yankees or Blue Jays, the Braves would seem less likely to pull off a blockbuster trade for Skubal. But Nightengale noted that Atlanta is in a great position to make such a deal, both in terms of prospect and financial capital.

"When they get enough in the farm system, I don't think it would require buying down," Nightengale said. "They've got plenty of money there, well below the luxury tax threshold anyway. So I think it's a matter of what prospects would that take."

The Braves have two Top 100 prospects on MLB Pipeline, those being pitchers Cam Caminiti and JR Ritchie, although position players Eric Hartman and Tate Southisene are also highly regarded. A combination of these four could very well be what it takes for Atlanta to complete a Skubal trade.

Whichever team acquires Skubal would be in prime position to win the World Series, and even if he is a rental, achieving that ultimate goal would make it all worth it. In the case of the Braves, Skubal could very well be the piece that pushes them over the top, and that's why it would be so dangerous to count them out in these highly anticipated sweepstakes. They can do it, and they'd be nearly unstoppable if they pull it off.