The Atlanta Braves should aim to regroup after being swept in this year’s National League Division Series. With key players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider, and Austin Riley set to return in 2025 after missing time due to injuries, the team could be in a strong position. However, they may need to strengthen their pitching staff to maximize their potential.
Two-time All-Star Max Fried, who has spent all eight of his seasons with the Braves, is set to test the free-agent market this winter. If they can’t re-sign him, the Braves might look to acquire a veteran starter elsewhere.
FanSided’s Scott Rogust proposed a major trade, suggesting the Braves could offer prospects Hurston Waldrep, Drake Baldwin, and Dylan Dodd in exchange for St. Louis Cardinals starter Sonny Gray.
“This might seem like a lot for Braves fans,” Rogust noted, “but this is a team built to win now, and they’ll need to part with top prospects to bring in a pitcher who can enhance their World Series chances. Gray is a solid starter and was the best pitcher in the Cardinals’ rotation this past season.”
Gray would provide the Braves with a capable replacement for Fried. Over 12 MLB seasons, Gray has posted a 3.51 ERA and 1,724 strikeouts in 298 starts. Last season, he held a 3.84 ERA across 28 starts, and in 2023, while pitching for the Minnesota Twins, he earned an All-Star nod with a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts.
The Cardinals signed Gray to a three-year, $75 million deal last winter and could be open to covering part of that contract to acquire the prospects Rogust outlined. Waldrep, a pitcher, ranks as the Braves’ number-three prospect, while Baldwin, a catcher, is ranked fifth, and Dodd, another pitcher, is 25th.
All three prospects have some major-league experience and could accelerate the Cardinals’ rebuild after a tough 2024 season. The question for the Braves is whether Gray would significantly improve their chances for a deeper playoff run in 2025.
