Braves Suggested as Potential Trade Destination for Starting Pitchers Amid Ian Anderson’s Struggles
The Atlanta Braves have once again been linked to a pair of starting pitchers in trade rumors, coinciding with Ian Anderson’s rough performance in his Spring Training debut.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos appears confident in the team’s young starting pitchers as they head into the 2025 season. However, it’s uncertain how long the Braves will stick with their young arms if they don’t perform well early on.
In the Braves’ second spring game on February 23, Anderson struggled, failing to finish the second inning. In his first appearance with the Braves in two years, Anderson gave up one hit and walked three batters in just 1.2 innings. His command was a significant issue, throwing only 17 strikes on 37 pitches.
The trade rumors surrounding the Braves are persistent, and even if Anderson had pitched well, the team would still be considered a potential destination for a new starting pitcher. But the timing of Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer’s trade speculation, following Anderson’s early spring struggles, raises questions about the urgency of the Braves possibly pursuing a starter.
How long will the Braves stick with their young pitchers? The team is relying on Anderson, Grant Holmes, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Bryce Elder to fill two rotation spots until Spencer Strider returns. If the Braves opt for a six-man rotation as they did last year, they may need some of these unproven pitchers to step up for regular starts in 2025.
Injuries are also a concern, and it’s likely Anderson, Holmes, Smith-Shawver, and Elder will all play a role in the rotation at some point. But how long will the Braves maintain faith in these young pitchers if Anderson’s struggles persist?
Anthopoulos had previously indicated that any pitcher the Braves bring in before the season must be an upgrade over Anderson and Holmes. Both Michael King and Dylan Cease would certainly be better options than Anderson’s performance in his spring debut. Cease has been a Cy Young finalist in two of the past three years, and King posted a 2.95 ERA in his first full season as a starter.
Though the Braves may be hesitant to make a move, they might be forced to pursue additional starting pitching if their young pitchers continue to struggle. While it’s just two innings in February, Anderson’s performance raises concerns about the rotation’s readiness for the season.
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