Braves trade idea pairs Rockies' $50M fireballer with Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez in elite pen originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves are a dominant club offensively, and their pitching only makes things harder for opposing teams. The starting rotation has been on fire this season, despite injuries to several key arms.
The toughest challenge for the Braves right now is managing the bullpen due to their hybrid rotation approach. It has cost Atlanta games, and eventually it may need to change so they can stabilize the relief group.
“Not sure how much longer you can run this 6 man hybrid rotation when you have very little trust in two of your seven relievers and another is a rookie they’re being highly cautious with,” Battery Power’s Scott Coleman posted.
Atlanta will be looking to add a bullpen arm at the trade deadline to help fix the situation. One popular name this summer is Colorado Rockies reliever Antonio Senzatela.
“Rival executives say that one of the hottest commodities at the trade deadline will be Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela. Senzatela, pitching in relief for the first time in his career, is thriving since the conversion. He’s 3-0 with a 1.32 ERA and a 0.768 WHIP. He’s in the final year of his five-year, $50.5 million contract,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote.
FanSided’s Mark Powell believes Atlanta could have to part with two strong prospects to land Senzatela, naming Owen Murphy and Eric Hartman as potential trade chips.
“No one likes trading from the prospect cupboard. Because we don't know what Murphy and Hartman will become just yet, it's like voluntarily giving away your lottery ticket. However, Senzatela has a club option for 2027, so it's not like he's on an expiring contract. That means the Braves will have to send away some promising prospects for his services. Murphy is the team's No. 6-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, though he's struggled this year. Hartman has performed well in Rome, but is just 19 years old and needs a lot of polish. If the Braves can get away with this offer, they should take it, as Senzatela could play a big role in their postseason push,” Powell wrote.
Atlanta Braves relievers Aaron Bummer and Tyler Kinley have both struggled recently, and adding Senzatela would give the bullpen another reliable arm. Bringing in another reliever would also help prevent situations where the bullpen is short-handed.
Atlanta already has an elite pitching staff, but a bullpen featuring Robert Suarez, Raisel Iglesias, and a potential addition like Senzatela would be a nightmare for opposing teams across MLB. If acquired, Senzatela could also provide team control into next season.
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