Braves Acquire 36-Year-Old Brent Suter From Angels Ahead of Trade Deadline

Q: What hidden prospect cost did the Braves actually pay to acquire these crucial innings-eaters right before the trade deadline?

The hidden prospect cost was minimal. For Tyler Mahle, Atlanta gave up 24-year-old right-hander Anthony Molina, a hard-throwing but fringe depth arm rather than a premium prospect. For Brent Suter, the reporting around the deal indicates the Braves did not part with any notable prospect capital, fitting the description of a low-cost innings acquisition. Molina was the real asset moved in these deadline pitching adds. He had worked both as a starter and reliever, touched the majors, and posted solid Triple-A numbers, but he was not viewed as one of Atlanta’s top prospects. Multiple reports described the Mahle trade as one that “didn’t cost any prospect capital” in the meaningful sense, because Molina was more organizational pitching depth than a core future piece. That is the key to understanding Atlanta’s strategy. With the rotation hit by injuries to Reynaldo López, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, the Braves were buying innings without sacrificing elite farm talent. Mahle cost them a useful but expendable arm in Molina; Suter appears to have cost even less in prospect value. So if there was a “hidden” price, it was not a blue-chip prospect package. It was the quiet surrender of upper-minors depth, mainly Molina, plus the club’s willingness to absorb salary for short-term pitching help.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 3

Atlanta added Brent Suter on Monday, giving its staff another flexible arm who can work as a reliever or emergency starter.
Suter, 36, has a 4.12 ERA across 63 1/3 innings and is expected to fill a relief role in Atlanta.
The move extends the Braves' deadline pitching push after they also acquired Tyler Mahle on Sunday.
Atlanta's latest deal signals a focus on incremental mound upgrades rather than a single blockbuster addition before the deadline.