Key facts
- Jacob DeGrom, 38, exercised no-trade clause to block deal with Braves; Rangers and Atlanta had trade structure in place
- Braves acquired outfielder Lane Thomas and starter Tyler Mahle at 2026 deadline
- DeGrom suffered triceps fatigue injury while pitching for Rangers in August after deal fell through
- Mahle pitched well in first two starts for Atlanta after acquisition
The failed trade and DeGrom’s no-trade clause
Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos came close to acquiring veteran pitcher Jacob DeGrom from the Texas Rangers at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, but the deal fell through when the 38-year-old exercised his no-trade clause. According to reporting by Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves and Rangers had progressed far enough in negotiations that the structure of a deal was in place, prompting Texas to approach DeGrom for approval. The pitcher declined to waive the clause, blocking the transaction.
Anthopoulos’ deadline acquisitions and philosophy
The Braves’ trade deadline moves drew criticism from some observers. Atlanta acquired outfielder Lane Thomas to platoon in left field and brought in starting pitcher Tyler Mahle from another team. Some analysts questioned whether these moves were sufficient given the team’s identified needs for offensive help and frontline starting pitching to complement Chris Sale. Anthopoulos addressed the criticism after the deadline, saying the organization had not entered negotiations with a predetermined target but simply sought to improve the roster. “We did not go into the deadline with ‘hey we have to get this.’ We’re just trying to make the team better,” he said.
DeGrom’s injury and the unforeseen blessing
The failed acquisition took on new significance shortly after. DeGrom suffered a triceps injury while pitching for Texas in August. Rangers reporter Shawn McFarland noted the timing was particularly unfortunate for the Rangers, as star pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was already on the injured list. With DeGrom showing signs of triceps fatigue and already dealing with glute and hip soreness, there was concern about the severity of the new injury. Had DeGrom joined Atlanta, his fitness status at that stage of the season could have limited his value down the stretch and into the postseason. In contrast, Mahle, the pitcher the Braves did acquire, pitched well in his first two starts for Atlanta after the deadline.
What comes next
The Braves continued their season with their actual deadline-acquired players, while DeGrom remained with Texas dealing with injury management during the latter stages of the regular season.
Sources
Featured photo: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)