Braves predicted to trade for Brewers’ $8M, 2-time All-Star, NL wins leader, Cy Young caliber arm originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves are setting themselves up nicely for the 2026 season as they continue to finalize deals during the free agency portion of the offseason. Entering the winter, the organization had a clear plan to address key roster gaps, and so far those needs have been filled effectively. There were three main positions that required attention.
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“Anthopoulos said shortstop, bullpen and rotation are among the areas they’ll discuss addressing this winter,” AJC’s Gabe Burns reported.
The Braves have addressed nearly all of those areas after signing players such as Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez, and Ha-Seong Kim. However, there is still work to be done, and Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos recently hinted that the starting rotation could be the next area of focus. He did not specify whether that addition would come via trade or free agency.
“We’ve explored the starting rotation, adding and getting some type of starter, whether that’s trade or signing. We’d like for it to be someone impactful, someone we think can start a playoff game,” Anthopoulos said, noting the team is in a good place with their current starters.
One name to monitor on the trade market is Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta.
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“Peralta’s contract predicament is what makes the deal interesting for both parties. If we take into account that his team option is $8 million for 2026, the financial burden remains quite light; hence, the Brewers have the freedom to let go of their ace if they receive a good enough return in exchange. Definitely, the Braves are a team that cannot afford to wait anymore, thus a deal featuring a quality pitching prospect like Hurston Waldrep and a talented right-hander, Blake Burkhalter, should be the centerpiece of an offer from the Braves. This trade can be made without having to sell off the future, like Cam Caminiti and especially JR Ritchie, who might even see some MLB work this season,” ClutchPoints’ Garrett Kerman wrote.
The primary risk in such a deal is that it could be a short-term move if Peralta does not re-sign with the team. Unless Peralta is willing to agree to an extension, Anthopoulos would likely seek some form of long-term commitment before finalizing a trade.
If the Braves can secure Peralta beyond the 2026 season, it would be a major win for Atlanta. He is a name that would have Braves fans excited if he were to join the roster, and such a move could prove to be an ideal fit for the organization.
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