The Atlanta Braves didn’t just stumble out of the gate in 2025 — they faceplanted. At 4-11 heading into mid-April, a team that was once defined by power and pitching precision is now treading water, desperately waiting for someone to toss a lifeline.
From Braves Powerhouse to Power Outage
This isn’t just a case of a few bad games or a sluggish start. That was underwhelming for Braves fans who watched last season’s injury-laden wild-card disappointment. This is downright dismal.
A couple of years removed from tying the single-season home run record and ranking among the elite in ERA, Atlanta’s fall from grace has been stunning. Through 15 games, the Braves rank tied for 16th in home runs (15), 21st in OPS (.667), and 22nd in team ERA (4.42). The offense has evaporated, the pitching has cracked, and the losses are piling up.
Sure, reinforcements are coming. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider are on track to return soon. Their presence could uplift the lineup and rotation. But as things stand, Atlanta’s issues run far deeper than two stars can fix.
Between shallow farm depth and a front office that has been reluctant to flex financial muscle early in the year, the Braves are quickly running out of internal options. What they need is a catalyst — and that spark might just be playing in Tampa Bay.
Brandon Lowe: A Worthy Gamble for a Desperate Lineup
The Rays are off to a middling start themselves, sitting at 7-8 and stuck in the middle of a lukewarm AL East. Tampa has been in selling mode over the past few years, and Brandon Lowe might soon be on the table. For the Braves, he could be exactly the jolt they need.
Lowe brings legitimate power from the left side. He clubbed 39 homers in 2021, followed by 21 home runs in both 2023 and 2024 despite injury setbacks. Even if his average and OBP numbers don’t jump off the page, a .244/.311/.473 slash line last year is a marked upgrade over the bottom half of Atlanta’s current order.
This year? He’s hitting .264 with three bombs so far. That’s hardly elite, but solid, especially compared to what the Braves have been getting from their second-tier bats.
Defensively, Lowe brings flexibility. While primarily a second baseman, he can also hold down a corner outfield spot. That versatility could give the Braves options to reshuffle their infield — perhaps even shifting Ozzie Albies to shortstop, where he has some minor league history, to cover for the underwhelming Orlando Arcia.
What Would a Trade Look Like?
So, what would it take to land Lowe? It starts with the Braves’ No. 5 prospect, Drue Hackenberg. The 23-year-old righty has quickly climbed the ranks, finishing 2024 with a 3.07 ERA, a .212 opponent batting average, and 144 strikeouts across 129 innings. He’s armed with a five-pitch mix and the kind of ground ball and whiff profile that Tampa typically loves.
David McCabe could be the second major piece in this potential deal. Once a first baseman, now a third baseman thanks to a cannon for an arm, McCabe is a switch-hitter with surprising contact skills to go with his pop.
He’s hitting .409 in Double-A this season — a small sample, yes, but a promising one — after battling back from Tommy John surgery. Matt Olson and Austin Riley block his long-term path in Atlanta, making him an ideal trade chip.
Lowe isn’t a perfect player. His durability is a question mark, and his OBP isn’t elite. But the Braves aren’t in a position to demand perfection. They need production. They need energy. And they need to change — fast.
If Alex Anthopoulos wants to avoid a full-blown collapse before May, a move like this could be the pressure release valve the clubhouse desperately needs.
