The Atlanta Braves are facing the prospect of losing two key starting pitchers to free agency. Max Fried, a longtime Brave, has already signed a long-term contract with the New York Yankees, while veteran Charlie Morton also seems likely to depart. This leaves significant gaps in an already thin Braves rotation that struggled with depth in 2024. To address these holes, Atlanta could turn to both the trade market and free agency.
FanSided’s Jacob Mountz recently suggested a trade idea that could add high upside to the Braves’ starting rotation. He proposed that the Braves target young Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Jones, a rising star who was reportedly on the trade block.
In his rookie season, Jones posted a 4.14 ERA with 132 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings. While his ERA might not be spectacular, his talent is undeniable. Mountz believes that if traded, Jones could serve as a strong back-end starter for the Braves in 2025, with the potential to develop into a front-end starter capable of ace-level performance, similar to Reynaldo Lopez’s breakout season.
However, while Jones would be an intriguing addition for Atlanta, it’s unlikely he will be traded. With the Pittsburgh Pirates having already traded starting pitcher Luis Ortiz, it’s hard to imagine them moving another key piece of their rotation. The Pirates are more likely to build their future rotation around Jones and ace Paul Skenes.
