Braves should call the Royals now and start trade talks for this intriguing rotation arm

How many sure-fire trade deadline sellers does Major League Baseball have at the moment? Thanks to a crowded American League Wild Card, the answer is not many. However, the AL Central does have one team that is clearly too far behind to make a postseason run, and that team also has some talent that could really help the Atlant Braves as they look to navigate the season’s final months.

The Royals (38-59) are that team, and veteran pitcher Michael Wacha is the player Atlanta needs to target. It has been mentioned time and time again how badly the Braves need starting pitching right now. After Chris Sale, things get really dicey in the rotation, and adding a proven vet like Wacha could be just what the doctor ordered for Atlanta.

Why Michael Wacha is a sensible target for the Braves this upcoming trade deadline

Everyone knows the Braves’ rotation could benefit from some consistency, and not many pitchers demonstrate that much more than Michael Wacha. The 35-year-old starter has posted an ERA in the 3s in each season since 2022. This year, Wacha earned his second career All-Star selection after posting a 3.77 ERA, 4.00 FIP, and 2.2 bWAR in 119.1 innings pitched – the most in the American League.

Wacha uses an over-the-top arm angle, six different pitches, and his veteran guile to outclass hitters on a nightly basis. Prying Wacha out of Kansas City will not be easy, as the Royals will certainly ask for an above-average prospect haul given that Wacha is on a very reasonable contract through the 2028 season.

Wacha offers a similar production to what Sonny Gray could offer, but his favorable contract would seemingly make him a more attractive target for Alex Anthopoulos. Now that the MLB Draft and All-Star festivities are behind MLB GM’s, perhaps we will see the proverbial Hot Stove get set to the preheat setting.

The Braves enter the second half with a two-game lead over the Phillies, so Anthopoulos needs to be ready to add to the roster the moment names like Wacha become available. Time will tell if Atlanta can land a much-needed rotation arm, but making a call to Royals’ GM J.J. Picollo is not a bad place to start.