The Atlanta Braves begin their 2025 trade deadline sell-off, sending Rafael Montero to the Tigers. With Ozuna & Iglesias next, see why the season unraveled.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The clock is ticking towards the 6 p.m. trade deadline, and the Atlanta Braves have officially flipped the switch from contender to seller. The first domino fell Thursday with the trade of reliever Rafael Montero to the Tigers, but with names like Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias still swirling in rumors, the day feels less about the upcoming game in Cincinnati and more about dismantling pieces of a season gone wrong.
The Braves enter tonight's game on a two-game losing streak and are 2-8 in their last 10 games.
The Braves kicked off deadline day by sending right-hander Rafael Montero to the Detroit Tigers for minor league infielder Jim Jarvis. It's a classic seller's move: unload a struggling veteran for future potential. Montero's disastrous July, where he posted a 10.61 ERA, made him an obvious candidate to be moved. In return, the Braves get Jim Jarvis, a 24-year-old who provides much-needed organizational depth in the infield. The bigger question is who's next? Reports indicate the front office is actively listening on Marcell Ozuna, Raisel Iglesias, and Pierce Johnson, signaling a potential teardown of the bullpen.
How did a team with championship aspirations end up here, at 45-62 and 16 games out of first place? The answer lies on the injured list. The starting rotation has been decimated, with Chris Sale (fractured ribs), Reynaldo López (shoulder surgery), and AJ Smith-Shawver (season-ending elbow surgery) all sidelined. This rash of injuries exposed a critical flaw: a lack of depth in the farm system. Unlike past years, there are no MLB-ready arms to call upon, forcing the team into a rebuild-on-the-fly.
Somehow, there's still a game to be played. The Braves will try to snap their losing streak tonight in Cincinnati, sending veteran Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.91 ERA) to the mound. It's a daunting task against one of the league's best young pitchers, Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.09 ERA). For players like Matt Olson and Austin Riley, the challenge is to block out the deadline noise and find a way to produce. For Carrasco, it's a chance to prove he can still be a reliable arm, whether for the Braves or another team next season.
The acquisition of Jim Jarvis underscores the new reality: the focus has shifted to restocking a farm system widely considered an organizational weak point. While the Braves have invested heavily in pitching prospects like Hurston Waldrep and Cam Caminiti in recent drafts, the system lacks the high-end position players and immediate reinforcements needed at the big-league level. Prospects like catcher Drake Baldwin and infielder Nacho Alvarez offer some hope, but the path back to contention will require patience and smart player development.
As the 6 p.m. deadline passes, the Braves roster may look significantly different. The rest of 2025 won't be about chasing a pennant, but about discovery. It's about evaluating who belongs, giving young players a chance, and laying the groundwork for 2026. It's a tough pill to swallow for fans accustomed to winning, but it's the necessary first step on the long road back.
