As the regular season approaches, the Atlanta Braves have remained active in adding depth to their roster. Recent additions include Hector Neris and Craig Kimbrel, both of whom are expected to play key roles in the 2025 season. Additionally, the Braves recently acquired Nathan Wiles through a trade and re-signed veteran pitcher Jesse Chavez.
The primary focus of these moves has been to build depth, particularly in the pitching staff. The Braves understand the importance of having a reliable group of arms to endure the long season, as injuries and inconsistent performances are inevitable.
Continuing this strategy, the Braves executed another trade on Sunday, acquiring reliever Jose Suarez from the Los Angeles Angels. The surprising element of this deal was that Atlanta sent Ian Anderson, a former first-round pick and a notable member of their roster, to the Angels in return.
Braves Trade Ian Anderson for Jose Suarez
The most significant aspect of this trade is Anderson’s departure. He was in competition for a spot in the Braves’ starting rotation but had struggled with control issues. His latest appearance for the team, which took place the same day as the trade, was another outing where he had difficulty finding the strike zone, narrowly avoiding major trouble. Given his ongoing struggles, it was becoming evident that his time in Atlanta was coming to an end, though the timing of the trade was unexpected.
Suarez, on the other hand, remains under team control until 2026, which is a positive factor. However, his recent performance has been underwhelming. Over the past two seasons with the Angels, he has posted a combined 6.91 ERA across 33 appearances, struggling with command issues and a shoulder injury.
This trade could be seen as a mutually beneficial move between Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos and Angels GM Perry Minasian, both of whom have a history of working together. Essentially, both teams are swapping struggling pitchers in hopes of a fresh start. The one bright spot in Suarez’s recent performance has been his breaking pitches, which showed some promise, but the rest of his repertoire has been ineffective, and opposing hitters have had no trouble making strong contact against him. Anderson, too, has been dealing with setbacks, particularly following a significant arm injury.
The Braves likely view Suarez as a depth piece who can be stashed in Triple-A Gwinnett and called upon if needed. Given the current talent on Atlanta’s roster, Suarez is not expected to play a significant role immediately. If he does not show improvement, he could be designated for assignment (DFA) without much concern, similar to what happened last season. While the Braves may see potential in tweaking Suarez’s mechanics, this move appears to be a low-cost acquisition aimed at providing additional pitching depth in the minor leagues.
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