The Atlanta Braves got off to a rough start this season but have rebounded since early May and are now firmly back in the playoff hunt. As of Friday, their starting rotation ranked 22nd in ERA across the league, indicating a clear need for reinforcements as the season progresses.
Nick Halden of FanSided proposed a trade idea that could provide that help, involving a deal with division rival Miami Marlins for ace. Acquiring a pitcher of His caliber would not only strengthen Atlanta’s rotation but also weaken a rival.
Though He has struggled so far this year—with an 8.42 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 31 innings across seven starts—he’s still working his way back from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for all of 2023. That’s a far cry from his dominant 2022 Cy Young season, when he logged a 2.28 ERA over 228 2/3 innings with 207 strikeouts.
Alcántara remains the Marlins’ ace and could benefit from joining a contending team like the Braves. With Max Fried departing in free agency and Spencer Strider dealing with injuries, Atlanta needs a frontline starter to anchor its rotation.
In Halden’s hypothetical trade, the Braves would send outfielder Jarred Kelenic—who has underperformed—and two prospects: right-hander Owen Murphy, a former first-round pick and MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 Braves prospect, and infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr., currently ranked fourth in the system.
This package would give the Marlins a solid foundation for the future, while the Braves would land a high-upside arm to bolster their playoff chances, even if Alcántara is still regaining his form.
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