The Atlanta Braves are no strangers to making bold moves at the MLB trade deadline. In 2021, GM Alex Anthopoulos transformed their outfield mid-season, propelling them from a .500 team to World Series champions. Now, facing early-season injuries in 2024, the Braves are once again considering dramatic roster changes.
With potential gaps in the outfield and starting rotation due to injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider, the Braves find themselves trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by seven games in the NL East. As teams start to fall out of playoff contention, opportunities for trades are increasing, and the Detroit Tigers have emerged as a potential partner.
In an article outlining eight “outrageous” deadline trades, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller proposed the Braves acquire starting pitcher Jack Flaherty and outfielder Mark Canha from the Tigers in exchange for Atlanta’s second-ranked prospect, pitcher Hurston Waldrep.
Flaherty boasts 115 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA over 89 innings, while Canha, despite struggling with power in Comerica Park, maintains a solid .342 on-base percentage. The main question remains whether Detroit would accept a single-prospect package for two impending free agents.
Waldrep, currently on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation, had a challenging start in his recent major league outings but shows promise at 22 years old, featuring a dynamic fastball and 100 strikeouts in 84.1 minor league innings.
With five weeks until the deadline, nothing is certain, but a trade like this could provide the Braves with the boost needed to re-enter the division race. It’s exactly the type of move that could shake up the deadline landscape, as envisioned by Miller’s speculative piece.
