Braves Miss Out on Freddy Peralta, Could Jose Berrios Be the Next Pivot?

The Atlanta Braves entered the offseason with a clear objective: add a proven starting pitcher with playoff experience to stabilize a rotation that has shown flashes of dominance but also vulnerability when October arrives. That pursuit has been persistent—but so far, unsuccessful.

Their latest miss may sting the most.

Braves Lose Out in Freddy Peralta Sweepstake

For weeks, the Braves were among several teams monitoring the availability of Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. Peralta, a durable right-hander with swing-and-miss stuff and postseason experience, fit exactly what Atlanta was looking for: a front-line starter who could slot comfortably near the top of a contending rotation.

However, the Brewers set a steep price.

According to The Athletic, Milwaukee made it clear that any Peralta trade would require a starter-ready replacement—not just prospects.

“If the Brewers trade ace Freddy Peralta, they want in return a replacement starter they can slot into their rotation in his place,” wrote CBS Sports’ RJ Anderson.

That demand effectively limited the pool to organizations with both depth and elite prospects, such as the Mets, Dodgers, and Red Sox. Atlanta was involved, but ultimately could not match the winning bid.

Late Wednesday night, the New York Mets emerged as the victor.

“The New York Mets’ winterlong pursuit of a front-line starting pitcher ended late Wednesday when they acquired All-Star Freddy Peralta, as well as fellow right-hander Tobias Myers, from the Milwaukee Brewers for Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported.

For Atlanta, it was another reminder that even aggressive contenders can get boxed out when prospect capital becomes the deciding factor.

Time to Pivot—Again

With Peralta off the board, the Braves are once again forced to reassess their options. Free agency is thinning quickly, and January is rarely kind to teams hunting impact starters without overpaying.

That reality has shifted the conversation back toward trades—and one intriguing idea has begun to surface.

According to Heavy.com’s TJ French, the Braves could target Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios as a viable alternative.

Berrios may not carry Peralta’s raw upside, but he offers something Atlanta values highly: reliability.

Why Jose Berrios Makes Sense for Atlanta

Berrios has quietly built one of the more consistent résumés among MLB starters over the past decade. He is durable, battle-tested, and familiar with high-pressure environments. While not an ace in the traditional sense, he profiles as a dependable No. 2 or No. 3 starter on a contending team—exactly what the Braves need behind their top arms.

French’s proposed trade, however, would not be painless.

“In this trade idea, the Braves would offload fan favorite Ozzie Albies and shortstop prospect Alex Lodise in return for Jose Berrios,” French wrote.

That suggestion immediately raises eyebrows—and emotions.

The Ozzie Albies Dilemma

Trading Ozzie Albies would be one of the most difficult decisions Atlanta has faced in years.

Albies is a three-time All-Star, a clubhouse leader, and a fan favorite who has spent his entire career with the Braves. His energy, chemistry with Ronald Acuña Jr., and presence in the infield have been central to Atlanta’s identity.

However, baseball decisions are rarely sentimental.

Albies is entering a club option year in 2026 worth $7 million, a team-friendly number that also makes him an attractive trade chip. He is coming off a couple of down offensive seasons, which complicates his value—but not enough to erase it.

From a roster-construction standpoint, Atlanta could view this as a calculated risk: sell slightly low on Albies in exchange for rotation stability during a championship window.

Why the Braves Can Afford the Move (Structurally)

The idea becomes more plausible when considering Atlanta’s organizational depth.

The Braves selected three shortstops in the 2025 MLB Draft, significantly bolstering their middle-infield pipeline. That depth makes parting with Alex Lodise—while not ideal—less damaging than it might appear on the surface.

Additionally, the Braves recently missed out on Bo Bichette, another infielder they had reportedly explored. In that context, using Albies as a trade asset to address pitching becomes a logical pivot rather than a panic move.

Atlanta’s internal evaluations may also suggest that reallocating resources from second base to starting pitching better aligns with their long-term competitive balance.

Is Berrios Worth the Cost?

That is the core question.

Berrios does not dramatically change Atlanta’s ceiling on his own, but he raises the floor—and floors matter in October. His consistency would reduce the strain on the bullpen, stabilize the rotation during the regular season, and give the Braves another trusted arm in playoff series.

In contrast, standing pat risks entering the season with unanswered questions behind the top of the rotation—an approach that has cost Atlanta before.

Braves Still Searching for the Right Move

Missing out on Freddy Peralta was not a failure—it was the cost of operating in a competitive market where prospect capital rules. But it does mean the Braves must act decisively if they want to avoid entering the season short of their goals.

A Jose Berrios trade, even one involving a beloved player like Ozzie Albies, represents the kind of bold but rational pivot contending teams sometimes have to make.

Atlanta’s window remains open. The question now is whether they are willing to make the uncomfortable move required to keep it that way.

Do you think the Braves should consider trading Albies for pitching help, or is the price too high?