Here we go again—trade deadline speculation season is in full swing. The Atlanta Braves, sitting at 37-42 and scratching at the edge of Wild Card relevance, are suddenly being thrown into the rumor mill like a team teetering on the edge of a full-blown reset. The biggest name now circling the speculation drain? None other than Austin Riley.
That’s right. Bleacher Report recently listed Riley as one of the top eight potential trade candidates in all of baseball. And while it sounds shocking on the surface—Riley’s been a cornerstone piece of this Braves core for years—it’s not hard to see where the whispers are coming from.
Riley’s Underwhelming Stretch and Braves Payroll Puzzle
Riley hasn’t looked like peak Austin Riley in a while. His OPS+ has slipped—114 in 2024 and now 110 in 2025—solid but not superstar level. It’s not a collapse, but for a guy locked in on a 10-year, $212 million deal running through 2032, those numbers start raising eyebrows.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Rymer made the case plain and simple. The Braves are underperforming and they’ve got a high payroll floor because of all the long-term extensions. Riley—being both expensive and slightly off his game—is an obvious candidate if the front office feels the need to shake the roster and start over.
And hey, if the Braves ever were to put Riley on the market, the line of interested teams would stretch from Atlanta to the Bronx.
The Yankees Hypothetical: Fantasy or Foreshadowing?
Speaking of the Bronx, The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty didn’t report any trade talks, but he did toss out a little theoretical spice, suggesting the Yankees would surely “like the idea” of acquiring Riley. No surprise there.
The Yankees would likely hand over the keys to their farm system if they could snag a 28-year-old third baseman with Riley’s pedigree. He’s had 30+ homer power, a Gold Glove-caliber glove at third, and plenty of postseason experience. These are all traits that scream “Yankee Stadium fit.” But again, this is all smoke—there’s no confirmed fire yet.
What’s Actually on the Table?
Let’s zoom out. Alex Anthopoulos has already gone on the record saying the Braves won’t trade Chris Sale. He’s been their best arm this season and is under contract through 2026. Anthopoulos also made it clear he’s working with a buyer’s mentality. However, he didn’t rule out selling if the standings worsen over the next few weeks.
That opens the door for deals involving veterans like Marcell Ozuna or possibly even Riley, if it helps retool for 2026 and beyond. This isn’t a team trying to tank. It’s a team that’s balancing the tension between short-term frustration and long-term planning.
Selling off Austin Riley now would be seismic. It’d signal a full directional pivot. It’d also be a tough pill to swallow for a fan base still clinging to the belief that this team could rip off one of its classic second-half surges.
But contracts, performance, and expectations collide in messy ways in this sport. If Anthopoulos decides that shedding Riley’s deal opens up flexibility the team needs this winter, don’t rule anything out.
It’s still July. The Braves aren’t done yet. However, if the skid continues, don’t be surprised if the front office starts exploring options that would have seemed untouchable just a year ago. Riley might not be likely to move, but in 2025, anything is on the table.
