Paul Maholm was a movable piece in the Atlanta Braves organization. However, after being placed on the 15-Day disabled list due to a bruised left wrist, the lefty will not be worth much on the market and will not get a chance to prove he's healthy until after the conclusion of the deadline.
Maholm would have been a pivotal piece in the Braves' attempt to acquire relief pitching. The team's starting rotation is now loaded with talent and guys the Braves simply can't trade. Julio Teheran wasn't moved in the trade for Justin Upton and Frank Wren looked like a genius. Tim Hudson has turned his season around after a sluggish start. Plus, he's sort of like the organization's icon following the departure of Chipper Jones. He's a classy veteran who should have his contract honored. Then there's Kris Medlen and Mike Minor who are products of the organization. They have bright futures ahead of them and the Braves can save on pitching. There is no way these four guys will be moved.
Brandon Beachy will be making his comeback from Tommy John surgery. The rumor in Atlanta for the past year and a half is that the 26-year-old right hander will be the future ace of the organization. Beachy would be an important piece of the Braves young and talented rotation.
Replacing Maholm in the pitching rotation will be lefty, Alex Wood, who has made one start this season. As Braves' beat writer Mark Bowman mentions, Wood can make his case for a spot in the rotation with management while Maholm recovers from his bad wrist. Ultimately, it looks as though the Braves' rotation will be set for 2014. Maholm will be gone and Wood could be installed in the starting rotation, while Medlen could return to the bullpen.
It might seem unfair to Medlen, who ensured the team made the playoffs last season, though a Jones' error in the Wild Card Game cost the Braves the game. Medlen was the Braves most consistent pitcher down the stretch, giving the team the opportunity to win when he took the ball every fifth day. However, as Medlen has struggled in 2013 with a 6-9 record accompanied by a 3.64 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, he's primed to be demoted to the bullpen.
While Maholm's exit from the starting rotation allows the organization to be flexible, it now means they will have to dig into their farm system if they want to acquire some help out of the bullpen, as they are still looking to acquire a lefty to shut down the opposition in the late innings of the game.
The trade deadline is on July 31. It will be interesting to see what happens in Braves Nation as the deadline nears. Also, Wood will be making his second MLB start on Thursday against the New York Mets as the Braves close out a four-game series against their division rivals.
