The Atlanta Braves are MLB’s hottest team, and they are set to open up a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. Atlanta’s pitching staff has been stellar, but the hot start also brings up the motion that the Braves are real World Series contenders, which looks to be true through the first month of the season.
Once the summer months roll around, expect the Braves to be firm in trade talks with several MLB teams. Atlanta’s bullpen has been electric, but a new MLB mock trade idea by SI.com’s Ryan Shea features the Braves landing Houston Astros’ reliever Bryan Abreu in exchange for two prospects.
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GettyBryan Abreu has been struggling for the Houston Astros this season.Â
Bryan Abreu is off to a slow start this season, there’s no doubt about it, but he’s certainly due for some positive regression here shortly. In 8.1 innings pitched for the Astros this season, Abreu has given up 12 earned runs, Â but also struck out 13 batters. However, he’s been very poor in finding the zone frequently and has been prone to giving up home runs.
In those 8.1 innings this season, Abreu has surrendered four home runs and issued 13 walks. It’s a small sample size, but still.
Shea writes that the Braves may be able to get Bryan Abreu for two prospects RHP Ethan Bagwell, and RHP Raudy Reyes:
“The Braves would likely deploy him in leverage spots where they can try to stabilize his control, giving him save/hold upside if he corrects the walks, but significant ERA/WHIP risk in the short term”
Before this season, Abreu has been stellar for pretty much his entire career. In 327 games pitched over seven MLB seasons, he holds a 2.90 ERA with 461 strikeouts. The four home runs given up this season match his entire total of 2025, and he pitched 71.0 innings to the tune of a 2.28 ERA. The issue with Abreu is that he isn’t really a ‘closer’, and that’s the role the Astros thrust him into last year when Josh Hader went down with an injury.
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Should the Braves Make This Trade?
GettyATLANTA, GA – APRIL 23: Bryan Abreu #52 reacts with Cesar Salazar #18 of the Houston Astros after defeating the Atlanta Braves 5-2 at Truist Park on April 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Raisel Iglesis is still dealing with a shoulder injury and remains on the IL, but the reports are positive about his return. Robert Suarez has been holding things down as the team’s closer, and Atlanta has received positive production from Dylan Lee, Tyler Kinley, and Aaron Bummer.
A revelation for the Braves this season has been their bullpen, and if the Astros are serious about trading Bryan Abreu, Atlanta should welcome him with open arms, given his track record and some of his dominant stuff. He’s on a one-year, $5.85 million contract and is set to hit free agency, which is why Shea’s proposed trade is light on prospect capital or real MLB players.
The Braves will be a very interesting team when trade talks get more serious in the summer.
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