Braves predicted to make stunning trade for $13M Cy Young-caliber arm after Spencer Strider injury

The Atlanta Braves have had brutal luck when it comes to their starting pitching. The issues began in 2025 and have carried over into this season. The rotation was hit with an injury on the very first day of Spring Training.

“The Braves opened camp this morning with an unwelcome update on talented young righty Spencer Schwellenbach. He’s been placed on the 60-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The team’s hope is that the 25-year-old is dealing with bone spurs and not something more nefarious,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams wrote.

On Monday, it was announced that starter Spencer Strider suffered an oblique injury just days before Opening Day.

“In the latest blow to the Atlanta Braves' starting rotation, right-hander Spencer Strider will begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with an oblique strain, manager Walt Weiss told reporters Monday,” ESPN wrote.

The Braves could use the financial flexibility created by Jurickson Profar’s suspension to address the rotation. One option would be targeting Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins.

“If anyone would come through with a stunning trade and an extension, it'd be Anthopoulos. And there's reason to believe a deal would make sense for both sides. I don't have to explain Atlanta's perspective - they need starting pitching and Ryan is an All-Star at that position. As for the Minnesota Twins, it'd take some convincing, but are they really in a position to compete? They lost Pablo Lopez for the year and made no major offseason moves to improve on a team that sold half its players at last year's deadline and won just 70 games,” FanSided’s Zachary Rotman wrote.

If the Braves are able to make progress on a deal for Ryan, they should act quickly. He has been a reliable arm over the past few seasons and is exactly the type of pitcher Atlanta needs right now.

The Braves’ rotation is far from ideal heading into the start of the season. While this was a concern entering Spring Training, it has now turned into a full-blown nightmare.

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