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It has been widely reported that the Braves are likely going to be pretty quiet by the time the trade deadline comes this afternoon. After trading Jaime Garcia, it looks like the markets that the Braves could be buyers in (controllable young talent, in particular starting pitching) is too rich for their blood and the ones they could be sellers in (rentals), have rock bottom prices right now so it may not make sense for them to deal anyone away.
That said, the Braves still appear to be at least keeping an eye and ear out regarding arguably the most highly sought after pitcher on the starting pitching market.
yanks remain the strong favorite for sonny gray. but braves are at least one other team that's still in contact with oakland.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2017
braves have great pitching prospects for potential gray deal but yanks are better match due to a's cf/positional needs. atl wont deal acuna.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2017
Gray has a lot of things going for him. He isn’t too far removed from being one of the better pitchers in the league and he is under team control for a couple of years which makes him more of a rental. However, he has also had some issues staying healthy and the Braves (and most teams for that matter) could be priced out based on the risk and high cost in prospects it would take to acquire him.
As of now, the A’s seem to be looking for young centerfielders in prospect packages and with the Braves refusing to part with wunderkind Ronald Acuna, a package including Cristian Pache may be where we are at in terms of the negotiations, although the Yankees and prospect Estevan Florial likely would be more a more desirable package (or at least more desirable that the Braves’ top dollar to get Gray).
Stay tuned folks....it is going to be, at the very least, a very interesting day.