Braves predicted to trade for $56M rival Cy Young winner to form star-studded duo with Chris Sale

May 28, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves wrapped up the month of June with a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. For Atlanta, the end of June is likely a welcome sight after a difficult stretch.

The Braves once held a 10-game lead in the NL East, but entering July, that advantage has shrunk to just 2.5 games. The Philadelphia Phillies are now right on their heels, making the division race much tighter.

“The Braves had been MLB’s best team through the first two months of the season. They were formidable out of the gate, ending the month of May with a 40–20 record and a comfortable division lead. At that time, Philadelphia had only just begun to turn the corner on its woeful start to the season. The Phillies were 30–29, 9 1/2 games back in the division. Since then, the Braves have limped to a 9–13 record in June, while the Phillies have steadily improved, going 17–8 over their last 25 games,” SI’s Karl Rasmussen wrote.

The Braves know they have to turn things around quickly. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has already hinted that Atlanta plans to be aggressive at the trade 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.

Pitching is expected to be one of Atlanta's top priorities. One proposed trade would send Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara to the Braves.

“If the Braves can convince the Marlins to deal Alcantara within the division, he’d be a welcome addition to Atlanta’s rotation. The former Cy Young winner hasn’t had too much success since he missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he’s bounced back to some degree this year. Through 16 starts, he owns a 4.18 ERA (3.99 FIP) and has 77 strikeouts across 103 1/3 innings. While he’s no longer a Cy Young-caliber starter, he’s still a reliable arm who can pitch deep into games,” Rasmussen wrote.

The Braves know firsthand the kind of success Alcantara has had throughout his career. Atlanta needs significant help in its starting rotation, and adding a proven veteran like Alcantara would be a major step in the right direction.

Alcantara is currently on a $56 million contract with the Marlins, making him an affordable option for the Braves to pursue. He is a former Cy Young Award winner who has shown encouraging signs since returning from Tommy John surgery. While it would be a difficult trade to complete, it is one that could be well worth it for Atlanta.

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