Braves seeking to repeat '21 magic with Deadline additions

ATLANTA -- As Braves fans anxiously await the acquisition of a playoff-caliber starting pitcher, the team’s president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos is trying to bolster his pitching staff as a whole.

Along with pursuing the frontline starters, Anthopoulos made a back-of-the-rotation move by trading for right-hander Tyler Mahle from the Giants on Sunday night, per sources. He may also try to add multiple relievers to aid a recently-taxed bullpen. This doesn’t mean he won’t make a strong push to land Logan Webb, Casey Mize, George Kirby, or any other frontline starter available on the now Tarik Skubal-less trade market.

It just means he’s closely monitoring the bullpen market. You’re not going to find a lot of sexy names on this list, especially now that it looks like Mason Miller and Josh Hader could stay in place. But you could certainly find some value from relievers currently playing for teams out of playoff contention.

You remember the Braves landing Jorge Soler, Eddie Rosario, Joc Pederson and Adam Duvall before the 2021 Trade Deadline. You also remember the Night Shift. But do you remember the Braves also acquiring Richard Rodríguez from the Pirates before that same Deadline?

Rodríguez was horrible in September and he didn’t even make the postseason roster. But he earned that 2021 World Series by lightening the workload of the four Night Shift members who went from being pedestrian relievers in September to being postseason heroes in October.

Because of the regular off-days included in the postseason schedule, teams can get away with leaning on the same four relievers during an entire postseason. So, the Braves already have a solid trio with Raisel Iglesias, Dylan Lee and Didier Fuentes. There’s also some hope Robert Suarez will be healthy enough to pitch again this year.

But the Braves could use some insurance for Suarez, who manager Walt Weiss said still isn’t close to returning when asked on Friday. The top setup man has been sidelined since late June. Could he return and make the significant impact he did during the season’s first couple months? Maybe. But it’s certainly not something Anthopoulos can responsibly assume will happen.

So, Anthopoulos will continue to be aggressive while attempting to upgrade his rotation and bullpen. He doesn’t seem to want to leave any stone unturned. He recently asked the Rangers about Jacob deGrom’s availability, knowing it was a long shot. He kept an eye on the Tarik Skubal market and might still end up landing Mize from the Tigers.

The Giants have repeatedly said Webb is unavailable. But other sources have said the three-time All-Star hurler could be moved.

The Braves already made a deal with the Royals, acquiring outfielder Lane Thomas and Minor League hurler Bailey Falter on Friday night. But should they attempt to also land left-handed reliever Daniel Lynch IV or right-handed starter Michael Wacha from Kansas City?

We haven’t reached the point where the Braves need to pursue anybody who has a pulse and the capability to throw five-plus innings. But we’re close. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for Atlanta’s rotation, Reynaldo López injured his left knee while doing his normal pre-start preparations in the clubhouse on Saturday night.

The Braves’ rotation currently consists of:

Chris Sale
Bryce Elder
Martín Pérez
Grant Holmes
JR Ritchie
Tyler Mahle

Quick Thoughts: Every time you’re ready to move Holmes to the bullpen, he becomes the No. 5 starter again. Will the Braves option Ritchie after he made Sunday’s emergency start? That could depend on if Anthopoulos adds yet another starter before Monday’s Deadline. AJ Smith-Shawver could become a part of this mix as he further distances himself from Tommy John surgery. He showed good potential in Wednesday’s season debut against the Mets.

The Braves have known Spencer Strider likely won’t pitch again this year for a while. They haven’t provided any updates since the middle of June, and his locker was cleared out during the last homestand.

As for Hurston Waldrep, as soon as he exited his July 19 start for Triple-A Gwinnett, the assumption was that he was done for the season. That confirmation was seemingly provided earlier this week, when Weiss said the young hurler is getting multiple opinions about his elbow.

Could Spencer Schwellenbach return? Maybe at some point in September. But what can be expected from him at that point? He hasn’t pitched in more than a year, and as of Friday, he still didn’t know how his elbow might react once he begins using all of his pitches and throwing closer to game speed.

Adding a playoff-caliber starter is important. But what’s most important is to do whatever necessary to make sure that Iglesias, Lee, Fuentes and possibly Suarez are feeling good entering the playoffs. Their ability to shorten games lessens the need to have more than one or two playoff starters assigned to go through a lineup more than two times.