The Atlanta Braves are seemingly looking forward to next season, and they made that abundantly clear at the trade deadline.
Atlanta has fought so many injuries this season, and it hasn’t been able to recover from them. The team’s pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, so much so that Carlos Carrasco and Erick Fedde are starting games.
The front office will likely look to turn the team around in the offseason, led by free agency.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline recently urged the Braves to target rival pitcher Ranger Suárez of the Philadelphia Phillies when the southpaw lands in free agency at the end of the year.
“If not for a back injury that held him out for the early portion of this season, Ranger Suárez might be locked in a Cy Young race with his own teammates right now, Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez,” Kline wrote. “He has a 2.59 ERA and 1.17 WHIP through 15 starts, with 90 strikeouts in 93.2 innings. The lefty sinkerballer has become famous for his poise under pressure. He feels like the perfect in-budget target for the Braves.
“Suárez has made it clear he wants to re-sign in Philadelphia, which would make it all the more sweet for Braves fans if Atlanta can lure him to the southeast. Suárez won’t rack up strikeouts, but he forces ground balls and soft contact while exerting tremendous command over his pitch locations. He works the bottom of the zone like a champ and is seldom rattled.”
Suárez is set to be one of the best pitchers on the market. Though he seems to want to return to Philadelphia, money talks. With the Braves losing a handful of expensive players after this year, they should have the money to beat the Phillies in a potential bidding war.
Pair that with the Phillies’ top prospect, Andrew Painter, nearing his debut in the big leagues, and Suárez looks a bit expendable.
There would be nothing sweeter for Atlanta than stealing a Cy Young-caliber pitcher from its hated rival.
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