As the MLB season is set to get underway in a couple of days, the Atlanta Braves should capitalize on the trade market.
With the recent injury news that Spencer Strider will start the season on the Injured List with an oblique strain, and other starters like Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep being sidelined to start the season, the Braves could use an arm to eat up some innings.
Recently, the Baltimore Orioles optioned starter Dean Kremer, which gives Atlanta an avenue to try and pull off a trade in the early part of the 2026 season.
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Braves Predicted to Trade for Dean Kremer
In a recent article for FanSided, Zachary Rotman proposes that the Atlanta Braves should trade for Orioles’ starter Dean Kremer:
“The O’s won’t just give him away, but Atlanta has every reason to be aggressive here. The Braves need starting pitching and should be willing to pay a premium. Kremer is far from special, but he’s thrown at least 125 innings in each of the past four years while posting a sub-4.00 ERA in that span.”
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, this is the Braves’ projected starting rotation to start the season:
LHP Chris Sale, RHP Reynaldo Lopez, RHP Grant Holmes, RHP Grant Holmes, and LHP Jose Suarez.
Jose Suarez has more teams played for than starts in MLB since 2025. And Bryce Elder has a 5+ ERA over the last two seasons. Atlanta has a lot of soft right-handed pitchers.
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What Could the Braves Give Up to Acquire Dean Kremer?
GettyDean Kremer pitching during an April 19 game against the Kansas City Royals.
The Braves have some internal options they could float in a potential trade for Dean Kremer. While the Orioles will likely have to depend on Kremer at some point during the season, their move of demoting him to Triple-A reveals the team’s true thoughts on the six-year MLB veteran.
He’s spent all six of his MLB seasons with the Orioles and has a career 4.26 ERA over 123 total starts.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. might be a name that the Braves could think about trading, and SS prospect Alex Lodise might also be enticing. If Atlanta would like to acquire Dean Kremer, it’s plausible that Baltimore might ask for an MLB- (or close to) level player.
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Braves’ Opening Day Outlook
Chris Sale will get the Opening Day start for the Braves, who kick off their season on Friday against the Kansas City Royals. If no move is made before Opening Day, which looks bleak at the moment, Atlanta will likely be rolling with Bryce Elder in the starting rotation.
Didier Fuentes will be a part of the bullpen to start the season, so he could also potentially be a starter option in the early stages of the season.
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