Top trade targets who fit the Braves' remaining needs

The Atlanta Braves have been the most active team of the early offseason, already filling most of their needs with the signings of Raisel Iglesias, Ha-Seong Kim, Mauricio Dubon, Mike Yastrzemski and Robert Suarez. They’ve committed more than $60M to their 2026 payroll and are looking very much like a club that will sit near the top five in spending.

However, they may not be done yet. The Braves could still use another middle reliever capable of handling high-leverage situations, and adding a proven starter is not something they should overlook. Alex Anthopoulos could have a trick or two left up his sleeve, and this is typically the time of year when the trade market begins to heat up.

MacKenzie Gore

Trading within the division is always more complicated, but it’s not impossible. The Nationals appear committed to moving off much of their core and entering another full rebuild, with MacKenzie Gore attracting the most interest. From a pure arm-talent standpoint, Gore is among the best in baseball, but he hasn’t quite put everything together over a full season, even after being named an All-Star while posting a 4.17 ERA across 30 starts this year. With two years of team control remaining, it would take a significant haul to land the southpaw, but the Braves have plenty of pitching prospects at their disposal to construct a competitive offer.

Mitch Keller

There’s been a lot of chatter about the Pirates finally spending this offseason in an effort to be more competitive. Until they actually sign a high-priced free agent, that should be viewed as little more than front-office posturing. Keller hasn’t developed into the frontline starter some envisioned when he made the All-Star team in 2023, but he remains a reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm. He’s under contract for three more seasons at $55M, and starting pitchers at that price point still offer a lot of value.

Freddy Peralta

Anthopoulos typically avoids spending top prospects on rentals, which makes a Peralta deal unlikely unless the Braves felt confident they could quickly lock him into a long-term extension. The right-hander is coming off a career year with Milwaukee, recording a 2.70 ERA, 5.5 WAR, and a 10.4 K/9. He’s a frontline starter who would give Atlanta one of the best rotations in baseball and could eventually take over as the staff ace as Chris Sale nears the end of his career.

Sandy Alcantara

Alcantara is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a 5.36 ERA over 31 starts. That said, his 3.30 ERA in the second half was far more encouraging, and any team acquiring him is ultimately betting on the stuff. He’ll be another year removed from Tommy John surgery, which wiped out his entire 2024 season, and his two remaining years of team control at roughly $19M per season remain very appealing. Trading within the division complicates things, but the Marlins have shown repeatedly that it doesn’t stop them from making blockbuster deals.

Edward Cabrera

Another Marlins starter makes the list, as many believe Cabrera is more likely to be dealt than Alcantara this offseason. That’s largely because he’s coming off a career year, making him a potential sell-high candidate for Miami. Control has been the biggest issue for Cabrera early in his career, but he showed real improvement last season and posted a 3.53 ERA as a result. The stuff has never been in question. He features a high-90s sinker, a mid-90s changeup and an elite curveball, giving him one of the nastiest arsenals in the league. The upside is enormous, and with three years of team control remaining, the asking price would be steep.