The Atlanta Braves have two months to determine the course of the rest of their season.
Entering play Thursday, the Braves were 25-28, 5 1/2 games out of playoff position. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them rebound and get back in the hunt for October, but either way, there are likely going to be changes at the trade deadline.
Usually, winning teams buy and losing teams sell. But there’s one pitcher on the Atlanta roster who might wind up being traded away no matter what the Braves’ record is by late July.
That pitcher is Bryce Elder, a 2023 All-Star whose career has gone sideways in the last two calendar years. The 26-year-old has spent more time in Triple-A than the majors since the start of 2024 and owns a 5.57 ERA in the majors in that same period.
On Tuesday, Eric Cole of FanSided named Elder as likely “trade fodder” for Atlanta, given his position on the team’s pitching depth chart and the likelihood that the Braves would have other needs to address.
“Bryce Elder was a lot better than almost anyone thought he would be when he came back up to the majors this year. While Elder was often playing with fire, he still managed to give the Braves a very reasonable, if unexciting, 4.50 ERA across eight starts including seven starts of at least five innings,” Cole wrote.
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“Assuming Elder can look reasonable down at Triple-A, the Braves should at least listen to offers.”
Injuries are always a wild card, and A.J. Smith-Shawver leaving Thursday’s game with an apparent arm issue could have Elder back in the majors before long. But by July, there’s no doubt he could have other teams interested in him, regardless of which level he’s throwing at.
Elder’s career trajectory has been anything but normal, so it only makes sense that eventually, he could find himself on the move.
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