The Atlanta Braves struggled with pitching depth during the 2024 season largely due to the season-ending injury suffered by ace Spencer Strider. The Braves have also lost Max Fried and Charlie Morton to free agency this winter so it’s almost a necessity that Atlanta adds a starting pitcher or two before the 2025 season begins in a few months. Cody Williams of FanSided recently suggested the Braves should look to replace these missing starters by swinging a blockbuster trade for either Dylan Cease or Michael King of the San Diego Padres.

“If the Braves want to think about just getting the best pitcher they possibly can, then calling the San Diego Padres about either Michael King or Dylan Cease, both of whom have been mentioned as potential trade candidates throughout the offseason,” Williams wrote. “And while the reported asking price (the Cubs asked for Matt Shaw and more) will certainly be high, it could be a deal that ultimately works for Atlanta.

“The Padres offer the chance for the Braves to upgrade their rotation. Having King or Cease with Sale, Lopez, Schwellenbach and hopefully Strider at some point would be nasty and give Atlanta the arsenal necessary to not just win the loaded division but perhaps even challenge the Dodgers for the NL pennant.” Landing one of these two pitchers would be the dream for the Braves. Atlanta could part ways with one or two of its top pitching prospects to bring in one of these two. It would give the Braves one of the better top-three pitching trios in the entire league.

Cease is more likely to be traded than King at this moment, but the Padres will likely listen to offers for either righty.