Braves urged to acquire $39 million two-time All-Star to replace Chris Sale

Atlanta Braves president of baseball operations dug in his heels last week. Then, disaster struck.

First, Anthopoulos went on 680 The Score last week and asserted that his team wouldn't be sellers at the trade deadline, when asked specifically whether lefty Chris Sale would be available. Then, news came down that Sale had a fractured ribcage.

The Braves are still six games under .500 and seven games out of a playoff spot. But if they truly intend to compete for a playoff spot, they'll need to find someone who can help replace Sale, whose timetable for return is completely unknown at this stage.

Perhaps another All-Star southpaw could lend a hand.

On Sunday, FanSided's Steven Teal named Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson, who has made two All-Star teams in the last three tries, as a top prospective trade target for the Braves next month.

"Anderson hasn't had a great time in June thus far with a 9.00 ERA in the month. However, the lefty had success in his first 11 starts with a 3.39 ERA, 31 walks, and 65 strikeouts. The main problem here is that the Angels aren't far from a Wild Card spot," Teal wrote.

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"They may not want to part with Anderson unless things change soon. He is not the same caliber as Sale but having a lefty in the rotation would be valuable. And it doesn't hurt that (Anthopoulos) has a good relationship with Angels GM Perry Minasian."

When Anderson gets hit, he gets rocked. His first season with the Angels, he had a 5.43 ERA in 27 outings. But he's crafty, he generates a lot of soft contact, and he eats innings, with 81 so far this season.

Somehow, Anderson feels like the exact kind of pitcher who has success in Atlanta. But as Teal references, prying him out of the Halos' grasp could be a tough task, even if it's in LA's best interest.

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