Few teams in Major League Baseball have been hit as hard by injuries as the Atlanta Braves. It’s tough to watch as a fan — a team with so much talent continually getting derailed by setbacks. With injuries piling up on both the pitching staff and the lineup, the Braves could be active at the trade deadline, likely targeting at least one or two starting pitchers.
If the Braves stay competitive and position themselves for a postseason run, the front office will need to act. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller suggests one possible target: veteran left-hander Andrew Heaney, who had a strong stint with the Dodgers in 2022.
Miller notes that a healthy trio of Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, and Spencer Schwellenbach could be elite. But relying on guys like Grant Holmes, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Bryce Elder to round out the rotation isn’t ideal — especially for a team that’s struggled early in the season. “We still expect Atlanta to be in the playoff race come late July,” Miller wrote, “but they’ll almost certainly be shopping for starting pitching help. A mid-rotation rental like Heaney could be the most realistic option — depending on how desperate the situation gets.”
While Heaney has been inconsistent throughout his career, he was outstanding with the Dodgers, posting a 3.10 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 16 outings. So far in 2025, he’s off to a great start with a 1.50 ERA and 12 strikeouts across 12 innings. If the Braves can land that version of Heaney, he’d be a solid addition.
