ATLANTA—The Braves were extremely busy in the run-up to the MLB trade deadline, executing three diverse deals in three days.
The Tuesday acquisition, in totality, might have been the best one, with Atlanta securing the services of Baltimore starting pitcher Kevin Gausman and reliever Darren O'Day—less than one hour before the 4 p.m. deadline.
Gausman's 2018 stats (5-8, 4.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 104/32 K-BB rate) hardly stand out in a pre-deadline crowd; but it would have been hard for any pitcher to flourish on a Baltimore team that's bottoming out (MLB-worst 32-74) and staring at a long and perhaps painful reconstruction.
This might explain why Gausman (three-year ERA: 4.22) had suddenly become expendable.
The rationale: The Orioles only had team control of the LSU product for two more years; so why not turn that leverage around in the present, by selling interested parties on the two-plus years of control?
For the 35-year-old O'Day, he has a 3.60 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 20 appearances this season.
According to Braves.com reporter Mark Bowman, the Orioles will receive four players in Tuesday's swap: Pitcher Evan Phillips, pitcher Bruce Zimmerman, infielder Jean Carlos Encarnacion and catcher Brett Cumberland.
Ratings-wise, only Encarnacion (14th) and Cumberland (30th) rank among the Braves' Top 30 prospects (source: MLB.com).
With Gausman in the fold, the Braves (56-47, 2nd in the NL East) now boast a formidable starting rotation for the stretch run, leaning on Mike Foltynewicz (7-7, 3.04 ERA, 133/48 K-BB), Julio Teheran (8-7, 4.46 ERA, 105/57 K-BB), Sean Newcomb (10-5, 3.23 ERA, 110/57 K-BB), Anibal Sanchez (starters-best ERA of 3.00) and the aforementioned Gausman, who has a lifetime ERA of 3.48 against NL East opponents.
The group would be even stronger, on paper, whenever rookie pitcher Mike Soroka returns from the disabled list (shoulder).
On Sunday, Atlanta traded for Baltimore reliever Brad Brach.
On Monday, the Braves received slugger Adam Duvall (averaged 32 homers, 101 RBI for 2016-17) in a four-player swap with the Cincinnati Reds.
