Atlanta Braves interested in trade for former Phillies starter

The Atlanta Braves are hoping the Philadelphia Phillies hit a roadblock in their historic campaign and a window opens for them to win the National League East division title again.

But the Phillies look unstoppable and they will only get better when shortstop Trea Turner returns to the lineup.

The Braves know this, so they are rumored to be interested in adding former Phillies starter and current Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zach Eflin via trade, according to USA Today.

The fact that he is right-handed works in Eflin’s favor. Between Chris Sale and Max Fried, Atlanta may want to add a righty to the mix. With Spencer Strider out for the season and several other unknowns, the Braves will need to do something before the MLB trade deadline.

Whether Eflin is enough in this department will depend on the front office and how aggressive they are. They may have to add more than just one arm to the rotation, but in a season where pitching is the most expensive and coveted commodity, the farm system would take a hit to make trades for multiple starters.

Additionally, Fried will be a free agent after the season. Eflin has another year of team control after 2024, making him particularly attractive to an Atlanta franchise that will need stability to continue competing with its NL East rivals.

For Phillies fans, it appears that whatever has kept him from reaching his full potential on a consistent level has been unlocked by the Rays. It would be especially frustrating to see Eflin return to the division, run for a direct rival, and find more success than he did with Philadelphia.