The Atlanta Braves have made one thing very clear heading into the second half of the season: they’re not waving the white flag. Despite sitting 6 1/2 games out of a Wild Card spot as of Wednesday, general manager Alex Anthopoulos is not only refusing to sell—he’s looking to buy.
And if MLB insider Mark Feinsand is right, the Braves might be swinging big. The name floated? Freddy Peralta, the high-octane right-hander from Milwaukee.
A Potential Braves Power Move
Feinsand dropped a nugget that caught plenty of attention: Peralta is on the Braves’ radar. It’s not just a rumor for rumor’s sake, either. Peralta fits the mold of what Anthopoulos is looking for—controllable, proven, postseason-tested starting pitching. He’s on an $8 million salary for 2025, with a team option for the same number in 2026. That’s two more years of high-level production at a very team-friendly cost.
And make no mistake, Peralta is dealing this year. He has a 2.60 ERA, 15 starts already under his belt, and back-to-back seasons with 30+ starts entering 2025. That’s not just valuable—it’s premium in a league where pitching depth is fragile and expensive.
For the Braves, who are trying to tread water while the offense figures itself out, adding a true ace could be the jolt they need. Imagine Peralta slotting in with Chris Sale atop the rotation. That kind of 1-2 punch could give opposing teams nightmares down the stretch—especially in a tight Wild Card race.
Would the Brewers Really Deal Him?
It seems counterintuitive at first. Milwaukee is only 1.5 games out of the Wild Card themselves, and Peralta’s been their horse. But this is the Brewers we’re talking about. They’ve made a habit of trading big names at unexpected times—Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and most recently, Devin Williams all moved despite the club being in contention.
Why? Because the Brewers are calculated and future-focused. With Brandon Woodruff on the way back, Logan Henderson and Tobias Myers developing in the minors, and Nestor Cortes on the mend, they may see Peralta as a movable piece at peak value.
If the return helps them long-term, Milwaukee won’t blink. Anthopoulos has the farm system and front office creativity to make the right pitch. He’s done it before.
Braves Need Wins Now
The catch is none of this matters if Atlanta doesn’t start stacking wins. Anthopoulos wants to add, not rebuild—but the team needs to give him a reason to double down at the deadline.
Beating playoff contenders like the Mets is a good start, but they’ll need consistency over the next few weeks to justify a bold move like landing Peralta.
If the Atlanta Braves can stay within striking distance, Freddy Peralta could be the ace-shaped domino that flips the tone of their entire season. And in a wide-open NL Wild Card race, that could be the difference between October baseball… or an early offseason.
