After a pair of 100-win seasons and no playoff series wins to show for it in the last two years, the Atlanta Braves are looking to break through in 2024 Atlanta is off to another strong start in 2024, though the Philadelphia Phillies' even better first two months mean that a Braves team on a 90-win pace is 9.0 games behind the Phillies in the NL East.

With a substantial gap to overcome in the division, here are three early MLB trade deadline targets for the Braves

Braves trade needs

Starting pitcher

The loss of Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider to season-ending elbow surgery leaves Atlanta with an irreplaceable hole in its starting rotation this year. Chris Sale, Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and Reynaldo Lopez have performed well as the Braves' top four starters, but outside this quartet, the fifth starting spot has been a revolving door. Seven other pitchers not part of the club's opening day rotation have started a game for Atlanta this year. With a nine-game deficit to make up in the NL East, the Braves need to add a high-level starting pitcher to the mix.

Right field

A season-ending knee injury to Ronald Acuña Jr. in May was another titanic loss for the Braves. Despite a down year from the Atlanta right-fielder, the Braves have experienced a significant production drop after Acuña's injury. Adam Duvall is batting just .180 on the year and is hitting .130 with a .520 OPS since Acuña went down. A cheap rental option would be ideal for Atlanta as the team replaces Acuña for the rest of the campaign.

Left field

With Acuña down, addressing the lack of production in left field is also an option. Adam Duvall was the right-handed portion of the left-field platoon alongside Jarred Kelenic but has taken over right field duties after Acuña's injury. Kelenic has been fine for Atlanta — posting a .722 OPS — but his OPS is more than .200 points lower this year against left-handed pitchers.

Adding a fourth outfielder who can spell Kelenic and Duvall is necessary for an Atlanta team that ranks 22nd in outfield WAR in 2024.

Braves trade targets

Zach Eflin (SP), Tampa Bay Rays

Zach Eflin returned from an injury-filled tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies to lead the American League with 16 wins in his first season with the Rays in 2023. The strikeout numbers are down, and the ERA is slightly up for Eflin this season, but Eflin leads MLB pitchers in walk rate (just 1.5% of batters). The Rays are currently toeing the line between contender and seller. If this team does not improve soon, the Braves could look to poach from Tampa's talented pitching.

Amed Rosario (OF/2B/SS), Tampa Bay Rays

Amed Rosario is by no means a blockbuster acquisition. But the Rays utility man can play both corner outfield spots or middle infield and carries a .729 OPS on the year. Rosario also comes at an affordable price. The 28-year-old is on a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Rays, making him an ideal low-cost option for the Braves to bolster their outfield.

Kenley Jansen (RP), Boston Red Sox

The Braves already have a great bullpen with a lockdown closer (Raisel Iglesias), and their biggest need is starting pitching. But consider an Atlanta team that doubles down on its relief pitcher to make up for its lack of starting pitching. With injuries to A.J. Minter, Tyler Matzek, and Jimmy Herget, the club needs more depth to its relief corps. Plus, relievers outside Iglesias are just 2-11 in save opportunities.

The Braves will participate in the lucrative starting pitching market this summer, pursuing big names such as Garrett Crochet and Jesus Luzardo. Strengthening their bullpen with a veteran like Kenley Jansen is a more reasonable option to offset Spencer Strider's season-ending injury and gives the team more flexibility than acquiring a high-level ace.