The Atlanta Braves may have no choice but to trade for an arm ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
The backend of the Atlanta Braves starting rotation appears to be the club's biggest problem and a clear area of need as the trade deadline approaches.
Atlanta once held a double-digit lead in the National League East, but it has evaporated with the second-place Philadelphia Phillies now just three games behind. The pressure is mounting and the Braves need answers at the back of their rotation before October arrives.
With no time to lose, the Braves may have unfortunately lost one of their younger internal options.
"Braves manager Walt Weiss says that pitcher Hurston Waldrep 'wasn't feeling right' on Sunday during his start from Triple-A Gwinnett and is going to be further evaluated this week," reported Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday.
This is really troubling, not just because the Braves may lack a younger arm to lean on, but because a drop-off in velocity is a bad sign for any pitcher.
That concern is amplified by the fact that Waldrep underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow back in February to remove loose bodies.
This latest development could mean he needs another procedure, which would certainly end his season and potentially jeopardize his availability heading into 2027. That would be a real shame for one of Atlanta's most promising young arms.
Drafted in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Waldrep's future looked bright, particularly after his 2025 campaign when he posted a 2.88 ERA across 10 appearances with 55 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings of work.
But this latest setback only compounds what has been a nightmare season. When he originally returned from his right elbow surgery this year, he struggled at the big-league level, allowing 10 runs across just 10 2/3 innings while striking out nine hitters and surrendering three home runs. He never found his stride, and now a new development threatens to close the door on his 2026 entirely.
Whether this issue turns out to be minor or something more significant, it undeniably adds pressure to Atlanta's front office to make a move at the trade deadline for a reliable and healthy arm.
The Braves have left-hander Chris Sale still operating as the ace, but rolling into October relying solely on him and a group of unproven options behind him is not a sustainable plan for a team with World Series aspirations. The division lead is shrinking, the deadline is approaching and the rotation needs reinforcements before it is too late.
