When it comes to offseason moves, the Atlanta Braves have a reputation for pulling off at least one headline-grabbing trade or signing—and fans are still waiting for this year’s big moment.
The front office has been very quiet so far, only making small depth acquisitions while big names land with other MLB teams.
Chris Sale’s Impact and the Rotation Void
Last season’s acquisition of Chris Sale proved to be the spark that saved the team’s championship hopes. While injuries derailed much of the roster, Sale emerged as a workhorse.
He pitched his best season in years and clinched his first Cy Young Award. But now, with Max Fried gone, the Braves are staring down a glaring hole in their starting rotation.
Sure, the front office is hyping up young arms like Bryce Elder and A.J. Smith-Shawver, but let’s be real: heading into Opening Day, the Braves can only count on three reliable starters.
That’s not exactly a comforting thought for a team with championship aspirations. Luckily, the offseason isn’t over yet, and there’s still time for that signature Braves blockbuster.
Enter Dylan Cease, the hard-throwing ace of the San Diego Padres, who might just be the perfect fit.
Why Dylan Cease Could Be the Perfect Fit
David O’Brien of The Athletic sparked some serious buzz this week by floating the idea of Cease landing in Atlanta.
He pointed out that Cease, a Milton High School alum, is entering the final year of his contract and is set to earn $13.75 million in 2025. With San Diego reportedly open to trade offers, O’Brien thinks the Braves should pounce. And why not?
Cease delivered a stellar 3.47 ERA with 224 strikeouts over 189 2/3 innings last season. Pairing him with Sale could turn Atlanta’s rotation into the National League’s best.
Of course, a deal like this won’t come cheap. The Padres forked over a hefty package to acquire Cease last spring, so they’ll want a significant return. But here’s where things get interesting: San Diego has been aggressively pursuing Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki.
If they manage to land him, they might be willing to part with Cease to clear payroll, opening the door for Atlanta to swoop in.
The Roki Sasaki Factor: Braves’ Best Hope?
For Braves fans, the clock is ticking. With spring training fast approaching, all eyes are on the front office to see if they’ll make that one daring move to bolster their rotation.
A trade for Dylan Cease could be exactly what they need to solidify their pitching staff and make another deep postseason run. This offseason might just have a few surprises left.
