This Atlanta Braves season hasn’t exactly been a highlight reel. Sitting at 38-45 heading into July, the vibes aren’t great. The offense has sputtered, injuries have mounted, and the club is 4-6 over its last 10 games. The Braves may be limping through the first half, but the National League Wild Card race is still wide open—and that leaves the door open for a bold pivot.
The Wild Card Isn’t Out of Braves’ Reach
Being eight games back in the Wild Card hunt feels like a season ender. But take a closer look. There aren’t exactly a bunch of 100-win teams in the standings. The Phillies and Dodgers look strong, sure.
But beyond them? It’s a mosh pit of inconsistency. The Cubs, Mets, Padres, Giants, and Diamondbacks—none of them are running away with anything. That’s the chaos the Braves could use to their advantage. That’s where Merrill Kelly comes into the conversation.
Merrill Kelly: The Underrated Rotation Fix
CBS Sports recently floated the Braves as a possible suitor for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ veteran right-hander. And it makes sense. If the D-backs decide to sell—and injuries have definitely nudged them in that direction—Kelly becomes one of the most appealing arms on the market.
He doesn’t have the glitzy fastball or the All-Star pedigree, but don’t let that fool you. Kelly has been a model of consistency since 2022, outperforming big names like Spencer Strider and Dylan Cease in ERA+. His current 3.49 ERA this season isn’t a fluke—he’s the kind of pitcher who wins with location, intelligence, and a deep mix of pitches.
He doesn’t blow anyone away, but he gets outs. And let’s not forget his playoff heroics in 2023—28 strikeouts in 24 postseason innings and a 2.25 ERA in a run that took Arizona to the World Series.
Will Atlanta Make a Move?
And that brings us to the real question: will the Braves buy or sell? MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand raised that exact point recently, and his take was pretty blunt—outside of the top-tier NL contenders, there’s a lot of “meh” floating around. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos has publicly denied that Atlanta will be sellers. Plus, Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach both just landed on the injured list. It makes sense for the team to bring in a new arm.
He called out the Brewers, Reds, and Cardinals as nice stories, but far from unbeatable. He also noted that the Padres, Giants, and Diamondbacks are all hovering in similar mid-tier territory. This is a season where a few well-timed additions could make all the difference. Landing Kelly would plug the much-needed rotation gap.
And for a front office that still believes in the 2025 window, that kind of move makes even more sense. Kelly is under contract through next season, meaning this wouldn’t be a rental—it would be an investment in the next 18 months.
