Atlanta Braves Could Look to Cleveland for Starting Pitching Help

With the turmoil in the Cleveland Indians clubhouse they could be looking to part ways with some starting pitchers. Should the Atlanta Braves take advantage?

After watching another bullpen game from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, it’s pretty clear they could use some help in the starting rotation.

Right now they only have one legitimate starter in the rotation in Max Fried.

I feel pretty confident that Alex Anthopoulos is busy on the phone looking to find some Major League arms that can consistently go five innings in a start.

Perhaps the best starting pitcher that could become available at this year’s trade deadline is Cleveland Indians starter Mike Clevinger.

He and fellow teammate Zach Plesac were sent home by the team after breaking protocol. That’s obviously caused some turmoil in the clubhouse and led to speculation about one or both of them being traded.

But even before that, it seemed likely that the Indians would trade from their depth of starers to try and improve elsewhere.

Even back in January we were writing about the Braves possibly swinging a trade for Clevinger. The recent situation has just increased the likelihood that a move could be made.

Cleveland has been desperately looking for outfield help for a while now, specifically a power bat in the outfield.

Drew Waters is probably the first name that comes to mind as he’s someone that projects to eventually be a power hitter once his 6-foot-2 frame a little more.

I think a straight swap of Clevinger for Wates would make a lot of sense. But even if the Braves had to throw in a pitcher like Bryse Wilson I’d still do that move.

Clevinger has proven he’s a top of the rotation starter and he’s under team control for two more seasons after 2020.

As I wrote yesterday, I don’t think the Braves should be super aggressive to try and win in a weird 2020 season.

But trading Clevinger makes a lot of sense because he’s someone that not only helps this team in 2020, but over the next two seasons as well when the Braves should be primed to win a World Series.

It may be costly, and with all the teams desperate for starting pitching right now, the Braves might have to overpay.

But this one that I think would be worth the risk as Atlanta desperately needs another top of the rotation starter now and in the years to follow.