The Braves fell to the Reds 4-2 on July 31 as the front office traded Rafael Montero and acquired Tyler Kinley. Will these deadline moves fix the road woes?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of 'what if's' and 'what now's' for the Atlanta Braves. As the MLB trade deadline clock ticked towards its final hours, the front office began shuffling the deck, executing a pair of bullpen trades while a frustratingly familiar story played out on the field in Cincinnati. The moves signal a clear intent to retool, but with major names still in play, the biggest questions for the Braves' future remain unanswered.
The Braves fell to a dismal 19-37 on the road this season, averaging just 3.2 runs per game away from Truist Park in July.
The day's concrete moves focused on a struggling bullpen. The Braves parted ways with reliever Rafael Montero, sending him and his bloated 10.61 ERA in July to the Detroit Tigers for minor league infielder Jim Jarvis. The move provides much-needed organizational depth at a thin position. Shortly after, Atlanta acquired righty Tyler Kinley from the Rockies for a prospect, a low-risk gamble on a pitcher whose 4.14 FIP suggests better days could be ahead. To make room, Enyel De Los Santos was designated for assignment, completing the day's initial bullpen makeover.
While the front office was busy, the team on the field couldn't find a spark. In the series opener against the Reds, the Braves fell 4-2, undone by a two-run homer from Elly De La Cruz. Starter Carlos Carrasco was tagged for all four runs over five innings, and the offense managed just six hits while striking out 11 times. The loss underscored a season-long issue: an inability to win, or even compete, away from home.
A solo shot from Matt Olson was one of the few offensive bright spots. The home run, his 19th of the season, came on a fitting occasion: his 30th birthday. While the team couldn't deliver a victory, Olson provided a small moment of celebration in an otherwise frustrating evening for Atlanta.
The biggest story remains what hasn't happened yet. Rumors continue to swirl around Marcell Ozuna, Raisel Iglesias, and Pierce Johnson. With the farm system struggling to produce rotation-ready arms to cover for the injured Chris Sale and Reynaldo López, the front office is under pressure to acquire prospects. However, trading key veterans is a tough pill to swallow. As of Thursday evening, the big names remained in Atlanta, leaving fans to wonder if the front office will pull the trigger on a more significant deal.
As the final hours of the trade deadline tick away, Braves Country holds its breath. Will there be one more blockbuster deal to signal the direction for the rest of 2025 and beyond? Or will this minor bullpen shuffle be the extent of the changes? Either way, the team that takes the field tomorrow in Cincinnati faces the same core challenge: finding a way to win on the road and generate some much-needed momentum.
