Way Too Early Blockbuster Braves Trade Candidates

It’s never too early to start discussing trade possibilities, and unlike last season, we don’t have to guess whether the Braves will be buyers or sellers.

This is a team with a 34-16 record, the best in baseball, and nine games clear of the Phillies and Nationals for first place in the NL East. They should be loading up for a championship run, armed with the cash and prospect depth to make the kind of blockbuster swing we haven’t really seen from Alex Anthopoulos in the past.

Aroldis Chapman

The Braves have one of the most lethal late-inning trios in baseball with Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias. There are some concerns about middle relief, however, and while Aroldis Chapman certainly isn’t a middle reliever, why not overkill the bullpen — especially given the cost of adding a frontline starting pitcher.

The Red Sox are among the season’s biggest disappointments, sitting at 22-27 and already 11.5 games back in the AL East. That’s a hole that’s almost impossible to dig out of. They’re likely sellers, and Chapman — on a one-year deal with a mutual option that is almost certainly going to be declined — is an obvious trade candidate.

Over the last two seasons, there hasn’t been a better reliever in baseball. Chapman posted a 1.17 ERA last season, finishing seventh in the AL Cy Young race, and has somehow started 2026 even stronger, recording a 0.51 ERA over his first 18 appearances with 12 saves.

Jarren Duran

Duran is another Red Sox star who could be dangled on the market leading up to the deadline. He hasn’t quite been the same since his ridiculous 9.0 WAR season in 2024, settling for 4.7 WAR last season and getting off to a slow start this year — hitting .195 with six home runs. There’s no doubting his talent, though, and he comes with a couple more years of affordable team control.

Like shortstop, left field has been a black hole for the Braves for years — which is strange, because it really shouldn’t be a difficult position to fill with a premium offensive talent. This trade deadline could be the perfect opportunity for Anthopoulos to address that now and for the future.

Byron Buxton

By now you’ve heard the connections between the Braves and Byron Buxton.

Atlanta reportedly pursued Buxton at last year’s trade deadline, but he had no interest in waiving his no-trade clause. He appeared more open to the idea this offseason, however, and with the Twins struggling again, those conversations could pick up once more.

Buxton is making $15 million this season and $15 million in each of the next two seasons, making him one of the most affordable superstars in the sport. The only knock on him throughout his career has been injuries. He’s played in over 100 games just three times in eleven seasons, though two of those instances have come over the past two years.

The Braves are also in a position to make Buxton’s life considerably easier in an attempt to keep him healthy. He won’t have to play center field in Atlanta and can see a significant amount of time as the designated hitter. Add in the fact that he’s a hometown product, and the move makes almost too much sense — which is exactly why it keeps coming up.

Stay tuned for Part 2!