Could the Cubs Pursue a Trade for Braves Pitcher Spencer Strider?
- Atlanta Braves front office officials discussed trading pitcher Spencer Strider at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, utilizing the right-hander as a trade piece to help balance salaries...
- Texas holds a club option for at least $20MM on deGrom—which increases to $30MM if he reaches 625 innings pitched across the 2023-27 span or finishes in the...
- Strider's inclusion in deadline trade talks highlights how significantly his value has shifted following a series of medical setbacks over the past three seasons.
Atlanta Braves front office officials discussed trading pitcher Spencer Strider at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, utilizing the right-hander as a trade piece to help balance salaries in a potential deal for Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom, according to reports by MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and Mark Feinsand. The trade discussions surrounding Strider did not result in a deal. Bowman reported on deadline day that the Rangers showed no initial interest in acquiring Strider, a reluctance potentially driven by ongoing questions regarding the pitcher’s physical health and elbow stability.
Contract Structures and Salary Comparisons
Texas holds a club option for at least $20MM on deGrom—which increases to $30MM if he reaches 625 innings pitched across the 2023-27 span or finishes in the top five of Cy Young voting in 2026 or 2027—while the pitcher collects the remaining portions of his $38MM salary for 2026 and $37MM for 2027. In contrast, Spencer Strider is signed through a six-year, $75MM extension he inked in October 2022 following his stellar rookie campaign. Atlanta possesses a $22MM club option featuring a $5MM buyout for 2029, alongside the remaining balance of Strider’s $20MM salary for 2026 and $22MM payments for each of the 2027-28 campaigns. While the Rangers would have taken on added guaranteed financial commitment in future seasons with Strider, they would have secured a significantly younger asset under team control for a longer duration.
Injury History and Recent Performance Metrics
Strider’s inclusion in deadline trade talks highlights how significantly his value has shifted following a series of medical setbacks over the past three seasons. The right-hander has been on the injured list since June 17 due to elbow inflammation, an issue that effectively ended his 2026 campaign despite his initiation of a throwing progression in August. This elbow trouble follows two major previous procedures: a Tommy John surgery in 2019 and an internal brace procedure that forced Strider to miss nearly the entire 2024 season. Beyond his elbow concerns, Strider has missed time due to hamstring and oblique strains over the last two years.
Front Office Strategy and Future Outlook
Baseball observers note that Strider’s appearance in trade discussions does not necessarily signal that Atlanta intends to openly shop him during the upcoming offseason. Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos maintains a reputation for exploring creative trade scenarios, and front offices routinely evaluate hypothetical matches for due diligence.
The willingness to target a frontline arm like deGrom demonstrates that Atlanta viewed Strider as a high-value asset rather than a routine salary dump. Turning 28 years old in October, Strider may yet recapture his past form if he successfully overcomes his physical setbacks, positioning him as the type of potential bounce-back candidate Anthopoulos has historically targeted.