Overview
- Braves president Alex Anthopoulos confirmed Sunday that Atlanta declined to include Didier Fuentes in talks for Tarik Skubal and plans to bring Fuentes to spring camp as a starter.
- Fuentes broke out in 2026 as a reliever with a roughly 2.45 ERA, 92 strikeouts in about 73 innings, and a postseason stretch that included 11 consecutive outs in relief.
- Anthopoulos said the club is mindful of Fuentes’ rapid rise and recent workload and may cap him near 130 innings if he moves into the rotation.
- Skubal was traded to the Dodgers at the August deadline for a three-prospect package, a result that framed Atlanta’s choice to protect controllable young talent instead of adding a rental ace.
- The decision shapes Atlanta’s offseason path by leaving the club to weigh re-signing Tyler Mahle, manage injured starters Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach, and balance short-term needs with Fuentes’ long-term development.