With numerous players on the injured list, trade talks around the Braves are heating up. Could this be the year Alex Anthopoulos goes after a top-tier starting pitcher mid-season? While it hasn’t happened so far, losing their ace in early April could shift the strategy.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield has kicked off the trade deadline discussions for all 30 teams, spotlighting the players most likely to be traded from each club. For the Braves, he pinpoints 2022 first-round pick Owen Murphy as the potential trade candidate.
Atlanta Braves
Trade candidate: Owen Murphy
The injury to Spencer Strider highlights a potential need for starting pitching via trade. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranked the Braves’ farm system at 28th going into the season, suggesting any trade for a quality starter might involve trading multiple players. The team’s lone top-100 prospect is pitcher Hurston Waldrep. While he seemed poised for a midseason call-up, his recent Double-A start saw him concede 11 hits and seven runs, possibly dampening those expectations. Owen Murphy, the 20th pick in 2022, may need to boost his velocity to make a significant impact. Nonetheless, he started strong with 6⅔ scoreless innings in High-A and showed versatility as a two-way player in high school.
The Braves face a dilemma as the trade deadline approaches: how much are they willing to sacrifice for immediate success? Their farm system has been depleted due to player promotions, trades, and previous restrictions on international signings. While they possess the prospect depth to execute almost any trade, key players like AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep are likely off the table.
Trading Owen Murphy could be a viable option if it brings back a valuable piece, but even that might not appeal to Alex Anthopoulos. The Braves’ current roster is competitive enough for a World Series run, and Murphy, despite his youth, ranks among the top prospects in the organization. The 20-year-old has had an impressive start to the season with a 0.75 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 12 innings in High-A Rome.
With limited talent in the lower minor leagues, parting ways with Murphy would further deplete their farm system. However, it might be a necessary sacrifice if Anthopoulos aims to maximize the team’s chances for immediate success.
