Ken Rosenthal describes Braves negotiations for Tarik Skubal, Jacob deGrom

From all the reports that have come to light since the trade deadline, the Braves’ strategy doesn’t seem too difficult to understand.

They were after the very few true ace-type pitchers on the market, targeting Tarik Skubal, Jacob deGrom, and Logan Webb. If they weren’t able to land someone they viewed as a game-changer, they were perfectly fine standing pat — which is essentially what happened, with the only addition being Tyler Mahle, who’s nothing more than a mid-rotation starter.

When it came to Skubal, the most high-profile option on the market, it really came down to the Dodgers and the Brewers. According to Ken Rosenthal, the rest of the offers didn’t come close, even if Atlanta was willing to part with just about every young player in its system.

“The Braves never got close to a deal for Skubal, even though they made virtually all of their young players available, including right-handers AJ Smith-Shawver and JR Ritchie,” Rosenthal reports. “The same was true for the Chicago Cubs. Infielder Jefferson Rojas, the prospect they sent to the New York Mets for right-hander Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor, is not at the level of Hope.”

The Dodgers deal did feel a little light, and while perhaps there were ulterior motives that had nothing to do with landing the best possible package, there’s one thing worth remembering: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

On paper, the Braves might have been able to match the Dodgers’ offer by including AJ Smith-Shawver and Eric Hartman. But if Detroit’s scouts were blown away by Zyhir Hope, that’s what matters. Prospect rankings are a useful evaluation tool, but not every organization views things the same way.

As far as deGrom is concerned, the Braves had all but a done deal in place to bring him to Atlanta — until he refused to waive his no-trade clause. Rosenthal reported that earlier this week and has since had multiple executives confirm a deal was essentially finished. The last hurdle was deGrom’s approval.

“After that story appeared, two executives said a trade almost certainly was in place,” Rosenthal continues. “The execs, granted anonymity for their candor, pointed out that teams do not approach players about waiving no-trade clauses so close to the deadline unless something is done.”

That’s going to sting for a long time if the Braves fall just short of the World Series this year. The club has been in pursuit of a frontline starter to pair with Chris Sale for years, and they finally had one on the way before it was nixed at the last minute. That’s another thing outside their control — but it doesn’t mean the Braves shouldn’t have pivoted elsewhere to find someone who could help support such a top-heavy rotation.

According to Rosenthal, they considered those options — like José Soriano, who was eventually dealt to the Blue Jays — but felt the prospect cost didn’t line up for someone they didn’t view as a difference-maker.

“The Braves also were involved in discussions for right-hander José Soriano and other starters, according to a person briefed on their talks. But other than Skubal and deGrom, they did not view those pitchers as difference-makers, or even better than what they had.”

Ultimately, whether the Braves were right or wrong will be made clear to the entire world when October baseball comes around. The starting pitching staff has been more than adequate during the regular season and is pitching some of its best baseball right now amid an eight-game win streak. But the playoffs are an entirely different beast.

Will Atlanta’s rotation hold up enough to get them over the top? We’ll find out in two months.

—

Photo: Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire