Braves linked to 3.18 ERA AL Central All-Star pitcher as 'ideal' trade option

The Atlanta Braves are looking like one of the better teams in baseball, though lately they've faltered a bit thanks to a shaky starting rotation.

While the beginning of the season went well with the rotation, with multiple injuries and struggling veterans now all coming together at once, only Chris Sale is left as a pitcher fans can be confident in.

So, it should come as little surprise that starting pitching is the Braves' top need right now. Amid such a top need, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller linked the Braves to their "ideal" trade target in a 3.18 ERA All-Star from the AL Central. It's not Tarik Skubal, but instead Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins.

Braves linked to Joe Ryan as 'ideal' trade target

"Minnesota's Joe Ryan is probably the ideal option here," Miller writes. "His prorated salary at the trad edeadlien is only about $2M, he is arbitration-eligible for 2027, and he's more than good enough to be their Game 2 starter."

With the Braves looking to add more help to the rotation, and ideally in the form of a starter who can be the team's No. 2 option behind Sale, with Spencer Strider banged up, Ryan would make a lot of sense.

Skubal would cost too much to acquire in a deal with the Detroit Tigers, and Freddy Peralta of the New York Mets wouldn't be their best option this summer.

MORE: Twins' Byron Buxton trade update is bad news for Phillies, Braves

Ryan, the right-hander who was an All-Star last year and likely will be one this season with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts with a 2.5 bWAR, is a great option for the Braves.

He's under club control through the 2027 season as well, giving the Braves one more year of Ryan as opposed to some of the other starters on the market.

Atlanta needs more rotation help, and Ryan is their "ideal" option this summer, according to Miller. It makes sense, especially considering the combination of talent, cost, and control with Ryan compared to Skubal and Peralta, among others.

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