Three remaining starting pitching trade targets for the Braves

The Braves were one of four or five teams consistently mentioned as being in pursuit of Freddy Peralta, who ultimately landed with the New York Mets last night.

As I already wrote earlier today, that deal shouldn’t inspire much confidence for Braves Country. Peralta was a rental, and the Mets still had to give up a top-30 overall prospect along with an MLB-ready pitcher. The Braves couldn’t have matched that offer even if they wanted to, and other teams — particularly those shopping frontline pitchers with multiple years of control — are going to use that trade as the baseline in negotiations.

That has to be taken into account when discussing the remaining trade targets. Unless the Braves are willing to part with at least three top prospects, it’s difficult to imagine them landing a true frontline starter with multiple years of control.

MacKenzie Gore

Gore fits the description of a frontline starter with multiple years of control. Add in the fact that it would be an interdivisional trade, and the asking price would likely be even higher. Still, the upside combined with that level of control has to be extremely appealing to Alex Anthopoulos.

Gore feels like an arm on the cusp of a special breakout, one that could insert him into the conversation alongside the league’s best pitchers. The Braves have long believed in their ability to unlock the best version of pitchers, and if they were able to do that with Gore, he could wind up being the ace of the staff for the foreseeable future.

José Berríos

With Gore likely costing too much in prospect capital, it’s best to look at more realistic trade targets. José Berríos has become somewhat expendable in Toronto and is coming off an underwhelming season, posting a 4.17 ERA over 166 innings. He’s also owed $19 million and has a player option that would pay him $24 million in both 2027 and 2028.

That’s a hefty contract for a starting pitcher who appears to be on the decline. However, Berríos owns a combined 3.79 ERA over the last three seasons and has made at least 30 starts in each of them. If the Blue Jays were willing to eat some money, there’s a scenario where this move could make sense.

Luis Severino

The Athletics shocked the league when they handed Luis Severino a three-year, $67 million contract last offseason, but it’s one they may already be regretting after he posted a 4.54 ERA in his first year with the club.

You might be asking why the Braves would have interest, especially with a $22 million player option on the table for 2027.

There are two reasons. First, the Athletics play in what amounts to a glorified high school ballpark, where Severino struggled badly, posting a 6.01 ERA in 15 starts. Away from home, however, he was excellent, recording a 3.02 ERA across 14 starts. Second, there’s a connection between Severino and new Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. The two worked together with the Mets in 2024, when Severino revived his career and positioned himself to land that lucrative multi-year deal.

Once again, this would likely require Atlanta to ask the Athletics to pay down some salary, but Severino is a legitimate candidate to be moved before Spring Training, and the existing connection makes him a name to watch.

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Photo: Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sports

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