If competing for a playoff berth is like pulling on a rope, the Atlanta Braves have pretty much exhausted all the slack they had by the end of June.
At 38-45, the Braves are eight games out of playoff position. They've lost ace Chris Sale for the foreseeable future, and though their once-vaunted offense is healthy, most of them seem to have forgotten how to hit in 2025.
If the Braves' position in the standings doesn't improve within the next month, it's hard to envision a scenario in which trading for more veterans makes sense. Instead, their only move may be to pivot to selling off their expiring contracts and trying to quickly reload for next season.