With the American League Wild Card race remaining tightly packed, there are only a handful of teams that appear destined to be sellers at the trade deadline.
One of the clearest candidates is the Kansas City Royals, who sit well out of playoff contention and could have a valuable trade chip in veteran starter Michael Wacha.
For the Atlanta Braves, who are searching for rotation help as they prepare for a postseason push, Wacha could be an ideal target.
Atlanta’s need for starting pitching has been evident throughout the season. Beyond ace Chris Sale, the Braves’ rotation has struggled to provide consistent production, making an experienced arm like Wacha an appealing option.
The 35-year-old earned an All-Star nod this season after posting a 3.77 ERA over 119.1 innings, continuing a run of strong performances that has seen him maintain an ERA in the 3.00s since 2022.
Known for his deep pitch mix, unique delivery, and veteran savvy, Wacha has remained one of baseball’s most dependable starters. Acquiring him, however, would likely come at a significant cost.
Kansas City controls Wacha through the 2028 season on a team-friendly contract, meaning the Royals would likely demand a strong package of prospects in return.
Still, Wacha’s combination of durability, effectiveness, and contract value could make him more attractive to Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos than some other available starters.
With Atlanta holding a slim lead in the National League East and the trade deadline approaching, the front office may soon explore whether a deal with Kansas City is possible to strengthen the rotation for the stretch run.
