With nine days until the deadline, the Braves just have to hope a team is desperate enough for offense to give up some kind of prospect capital for a three-time All-Star in the middle of a down year.

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman's Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. ATLANTA -- Here are some random thoughts a

An injury-riddled pitching staff and patchwork bullpen have declined of late, putting Atlanta in a strange position as the deadline nears.