MLB insider reveals Braves trade deadline intentions

The Braves are closer to the bottom team in the National League than the Wild Card, and it’s fair to wonder what they’ll do at the trade deadline.

Buying anything other than an asset that can help in future years would be malpractice, but they do have some pieces to sell. Unfortunately, they’re few and far between, especially considering Alex Anthopoulos refuses to move players with multiple years of team control.

He said as much a few weeks ago, and the thought was that maybe this stretch of sub-.500 ball would change his stance. Nope. According to Robert Murray, Anthopoulos won’t trade Chris Sale, nor any player under control beyond this season.

“Atlanta has not discussed Sale in trade talks and will not consider moving the left-hander or any other player under control beyond 2025, according to major-league sources.”

The reasoning from the team’s point of view is obvious. The Braves aren’t going to hit a hard reset. It’ll just be a retooling as the club prepares to compete in 2026, and Anthopoulos believes these players will help in that regard, as Murray continued.

“But the Braves want to contend in 2026 and (rightfully) believe that having Sale – and other controllable long-term pieces still on the roster – will be the best way to getting the franchise back in the postseason.”

However, to just blindly commit to long-term guys like Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris is asinine. Hell, what if a club blew the Braves President of Baseball Operations with an offer for Sean Murphy? It’s a narrow-minded approach to managing a club.