ESPN names Braves player most likely to be traded

With a multitude of players sidelined due to injury, the Braves community is already buzzing about the approaching trade deadline. Could this be the season when Alex Anthopoulos aggressively pursues a top-tier starting pitcher mid-season? Losing their ace so early in April has certainly shifted the dynamics.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield has kicked off the trade deadline discussions, examining potential trade targets for all 30 teams, and he singles out Owen Murphy, the Braves’ 2022 first-round pick, as a likely candidate to be moved.

Schoenfield notes that the recent Spencer Strider injury underscores the Braves’ potential need for starting pitching reinforcements. However, given the Braves’ relatively low ranking of 28th in farm system strength by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, any trade for a quality starter would likely involve packaging multiple prospects. The Braves’ sole top-100 prospect, pitcher Hurston Waldrep, had a rough start in Double-A, dampening his immediate prospects for promotion. Murphy, though a promising prospect drafted 20th in 2022, will need to enhance his velocity to truly impact games, despite his impressive start in High-A and his background as a versatile high school athlete.

The dilemma for the Braves at the trade deadline is determining what they’re willing to sacrifice to bolster their chances of winning. Graduations, trades, and international signing constraints have depleted their farm system over time. While they possess enough prospect capital to facilitate almost any trade, key prospects like AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep are likely off the table.

However, moving Owen Murphy could make sense if it secures a significant contributor in return, even though he remains a top-five prospect in the organization and has shown great promise this season with his stellar performance in High-A.

Although parting with Murphy would further weaken the Braves’ talent pool in the lower minor leagues, it might be a necessary step if Anthopoulos aims to maximize the team’s chances of winning in the immediate future.