Atlanta Braves Trade Rumors: Analyzing What Braves Can Offer for Zack Greinke

The Atlanta Braves are still scouring the trade market in search of a starting pitcher to bolster the team's rotation after a deal for Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs fell through. One popular name making the rumor mill rounds is Milwaukee Brewers ace Zack Greinke.

The Braves are one of numerous teams looking at Greinke, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He reports the Brewers would likely want one of Atlanta's top pitching prospects and another piece to complete any deal.

Let's take a look at what that would mean for the Braves in each case.

Julio Teheran

Teheran has been widely regarded as one of the best prospects in baseball over the past few seasons, but his stock has taken a hit this year due to some struggles in Triple-A. His ERA sits at 5.34 and has been coupled with a drop in his strikeout rate.

He hasn't had much success during his few forays in the majors, either. He has a 5.63 ERA over six appearances. That said, it's important to remember he's only 21 and still has plenty of potential. If he can develop his changeup, it would really help him take that next step.

Greinke can become a free agent at season's end, which makes it a tricky situation for the Braves. Given that acquiring him would make them a World Series contender, trading Teheran would be a chance worth taking, but only if the other prospect isn't among Atlanta's elite.

Randall Delgado

Delgado would have been the main piece heading to Chicago if Dempster would have accepted the trade to Atlanta. Therefore, it makes sense the Braves would dangle him in trade talks for Greinke as well. He has been in and out of the Braves' rotation this season.

During that time, he has complied a 4.42 ERA.

He has shown flashes of brilliance, but like so many younger pitchers, has struggled to remain consistent. The biggest problem for him has been avoiding one big inning. Things tend to snowball on him pretty quickly.

Even though Delgado looks like a player the Braves are willing to part with to get a veteran starter, it might be tough to pull off a deal. Since he's not the team's top choice, the Brewers would probably want another top prospect in the deal, and that's a lot for a potential rental.

Mike Minor

After 41 career starts, Minor probably doesn't qualify for the term prospect anymore. He's still a young pitcher with upside, though. It doesn't appear that he'll ever become the ace of a staff, but he should become a reliable mid-rotation pitcher.

Although he had a rough start to the season, he's really bounced back nicely in July. In three starts this month, he has a 2.33 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 17 strikeouts in 19 innings. Improved command has been the biggest reason for his better outings.

At 24, he doesn't have the same intrigue as Teheran and Delgado. However, pairing him with a top-10 prospect and maybe a mid-range prospect would make for a nice package, especially as the deadline gets closer and the Brewers are forced to make a decision.