Atlanta Braves Trade Rumors: Braves Must Strike on Ryan Dempster Immediately

It seems a given that Ryan Dempster will be traded before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Trying to figure out where the Chicago Cubs pitcher will be going is more problematic, though the Atlanta Braves continue to look like the best landing spot. 

According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the Braves could be the favorites to land Dempster due to the Dodgers pulling back in their efforts to get him. 

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Ryan Dempster’s first choice, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have cooled on trading for him, creating an opening for his second choice, the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves remain firmly in the mix for Dempster, though no deal was close as of late Sunday afternoon, major-league sources said.

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Just because a deal wasn't close on Sunday doesn't mean the two sides can't strike some sort of deal soon. After all, there are still eight days before the deadline, and these things can take a dramatic turn at any moment. 

For the Cubs, they need to move Dempster. He is a popular player having a very productive year, but everyone knows the situation this franchise is in right now. 

For the Braves, this is their moment to make a splash at the deadline in order to make a serious run at winning the National League East or at the very least one of the two wild-card spots. 

The Braves starting rotation is filled with a lot more questions than answers right now. Jair Jurrjens is a complete disaster, as his command and control have completely abandoned him, making him more hittable than ever. 

Tommy Hanson may not come out and say it, but the unexplained loss in velocity he has shown this year—per Fangraphs, his fastball is down nearly two miles per hour compared to last year—leads me to believe that there is something going on with his arm. 

Ben Sheets is a great story right now, though he can't be trusted to keep up this performance the rest of the season. Mike Minor has imploded this year. Julio Teheran has taken steps back in Triple-A. 

Tim Hudson is the only starter the Braves can trust right now, though he is not the prototypical top-of-the-rotation pitcher you want heading into the playoffs because his stuff doesn't miss bats, and he needs to get ground balls to be effective. 

Dempster is pitching over his head right now, but he is a far better option for the Braves to put in their rotation than anyone else they have on the big league roster or in the minors. 

The Braves have the depth in their system to make a deal with the Cubs, and if they are serious about going for it this year, they should be willing to take a chance on a half-season rental. They need him, and the door appears to be open if they want in. 

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