The Winter Meetings may still be a few weeks away, but the Atlanta Braves are already drawing attention as a team to watch. At the center of the buzz is one of their top prospects, Hurston Waldrep. According to Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, Waldrep lands at No. 9 on his list of the top 10 prospects likely to be traded during the Winter Meetings. It’s a notable spotlight for the Braves, a team that leverages young talent to bolster their roster.
Braves Stocked With Talented Young Arms
Reuter points to the Braves’ history of dealing young, MLB-ready pitchers and suggests Hurston Waldrep could be the odd man out. The Braves have a packed rotation pipeline, with Spencer Schwellenbach cementing himself as a long-term piece and 2024 first-round pick Cam Caminiti unlikely to be moved so soon. Meanwhile, AJ Smith-Shawver has also impressed, though his future in Atlanta is still uncertain.
Waldrep, however, finds himself in a tough position. Despite his promise, the prospect of him breaking through in Atlanta feels slim with so much competition. The Braves farm system leans heavily on pitching talent—seven of their top-10 prospects are hurlers—creating a logjam that practically begs for a trade.
Why Hurston Waldrep Could Be Trade Bait
Waldrep’s 2024 Major League debut was rocky, to put it mildly. Across two starts, he allowed 13 earned runs in just seven innings. Yet his performance in Triple-A tells a more promising story. He showed flashes of what makes him an intriguing prospect in eight starts with a 3.38 ERA and 40 innings pitched. Scouts rave about his fastball and splitter, grading them both as “plus” pitches at 65 on the 20-80 scale. That kind of potential can command attention from other teams.
Still, Waldrep isn’t without his flaws. His 1.45 WHIP in Triple-A reflects a challenge in limiting baserunners—a critical skill to thrive in the big leagues. He could emerge as an effective Major League starter if he can sharpen his command. For now, though, he remains an asset that could bring Atlanta a substantial return in trade negotiations.
The Braves’ Dilemma
The Braves are in a position where moving someone—perhaps Waldrep—might be the smart play. With so many talented arms in their system, not all of them will get a shot at the rotation or even the bullpen. For Waldrep, a trade could allow him to develop into the pitcher scouts believe he can become. It’s a chance for Atlanta to address other roster needs by capitalizing on their wealth of pitching talent.
As the Winter Meetings approach, keep an eye on the Braves. Whether Waldrep stays or becomes part of a blockbuster deal, his future will surely be one of the storylines shaping Atlanta’s offseason strategy.
