The Atlanta Braves are being strongly linked to Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jose Soriano as the MLB trade deadline approaches, with recent developments heightening speculation that a deal could be imminent.
The Braves have emerged as a predicted destination for Soriano, as Jon Heyman of The New York Post noted Atlanta’s interest, and FanSided’s Christopher Kline forecasted that the Braves would acquire the hard-throwing starter in the coming days.
Kline described Soriano as “a hard-throwing sinkerballer who can miss bats and coax groundballs in equal measure,” profiling him as a legitimate No. 2 starter capable of stepping up in a more competitive environment alongside ace Chris Sale.
The Braves are looking to bolster a rotation that has dealt with injuries to Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach, adding depth beyond options like Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, and Martin Perez.
Adding significant fuel to the trade rumors, the Angels scratched Soriano from his scheduled start on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Interim general manager John Mozeliak explained the decision by citing the uncertainty of the next 48 hours leading up to Monday’s deadline, calling it a “prudent approach.”
Multiple reports, including from FantasyPros and NBC Sports, confirmed the move was due to trade interest rather than injury, with Brent Suter tabbed to start in his place.
This type of late scratch has become a common signal around the deadline when serious discussions are underway involving a player.
Soriano, in the midst of his strongest season, owns a 3.29 ERA with 127 strikeouts over 123 innings in 22 starts.
While his walk total (57) has inflated his WHIP to around 1.25, his durability and strikeout ability make him an attractive target for contenders.
With the deadline just days away, the Braves appear positioned as one of the more logical fits if the Angels decide to move their young starter.
Whether Atlanta can finalize a deal remains to be seen, but the combination of the prediction and Saturday’s scratch has Braves fans watching closely.
