Braves predicted to trade Didier Fuentes, JR Ritchie for $32M Cy Young winner to dethrone Dodgers

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Braves predicted to trade Didier Fuentes, JR Ritchie for $32M Cy Young winner to dethrone Dodgers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Braves are the best team in baseball at this current point, and there does not seem to be any slowing down. The Braves made one of the more under-the-radar trades before the season by acquiring Mauricio Dubón.

Dubón has been the Braves’ secret weapon in the field and in the lineup. Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos has also hinted at being aggressive at the deadline.

“I fully expect and hope that we will be engaged in trades come July. I'm not trying to overly excite anybody or promise anything. But if we're playing the way we are right now, we're going to be in there,” Anthopoulos said.

Anthopoulos being aggressive at the deadline would be a major boost for Atlanta. ESPN’s Jeff Passan believes the Braves could trade top prospects JR Ritchie and Didier Fuentes for Tarik Skubal in an attempt to take down the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs.

“So why Skubal? Because he's Skubal. And because all those young arms -- not to mention J.R. Ritchie and Cam Caminiti in the minor leagues, and Didier Fuentes at the big league level -- give them the firepower to get him. To beat the Dodgers, teams need to assemble a wrecking crew that can go toe-to-toe with the first back-to-back World Series champions in a quarter-century. Starting a series with Skubal and Chris Sale -- and having Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder to fill out the rotation -- is quite a place to begin,” Passan wrote.

Passan is high on the Braves as a potential fit for Skubal. However, several top organizations would also be in play for him.

“Now that it’s becoming inevitable that the free-falling Detroit Tigers may have no choice but to trade two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal at the deadline, rival executives believe the bidding will come down to four finalists that not only can afford the remainder of his $32 million contract, but will also be willing to give up prized prospects: The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote.

The Braves are trying to win another World Series, and an aggressive move for Skubal would significantly strengthen that pursuit. Atlanta would have two of the best left-handers in the game if it happens.

The Braves’ core is not getting any younger, and the championship window is open right now. Historically speaking, this may be the last season with Skubal available before he potentially lands elsewhere. This would be a high-risk, high-reward type of move.

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