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Starters Braves Have on Their Radar, Top Prospects in Play

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Starters Braves Have on Their Radar, Top Prospects in Play


The Atlanta Braves have locked down two free agents. One bolstered the bullpen while the other diversified their options on the offense. Now, from what we’re hearing, the attention has turned to fortifying the rotation. 

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We are gaining an idea of who the Braves are targeting on the starting pitching market. Framber Valdez and Michael King appear to be the top two free-agent options they’re taking a look at, per source. The goal would be to land one of the two. How far along any potential talks are or if they’re currently talking at all is unclear. We just know now that these two are preferred targets. 

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Previous reports said that the Mets and Giants had previously chatted with Valdez. King is on the radar of the Tigers and Cubs. There are contenders in play for these same guys.

Signing a free agent is their plan A for acquiring starting pitching depth. What we are hearing confirms the willingness to cough up a draft pick to make a big signing. Both have a qualifying offer attached to them. 

That being said, they are willing to go out on the trade market if needed and in a specific circumstance. Plan B is to make a deal for Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta. 

The 2025 All-Star has been rumored to be a trade candidate since the start of the offseason. What we are hearing lines up with previous speculation as to the type of moves the Braves could make. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden suggested the Braves make a move for Peralta, and part of that suggestion included a potential trade piece that would likely be dealt in this scenario.

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The Brewers would likely want to make the centerpiece of the return the Braves’ No. 2 prospect, JR Ritchie. However, the Braves would likely prefer to hang onto Ritchie. They see him as a key piece of their future. They would likely prefer to make the centerpiece of the deal Hurston Waldrep, who showed significant promise once she was called up toward the end of last season. 

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Another player would likely be dealt along with one of the two names. The Braves would like to know whether an extension would be in play. They wouldn’t want to make the move for strictly a rental. 

However, the Brewers want to get a trade done during the offseason. If he’s on the roster during the regular season, it would put them in a bind. They don’t see him as someone they’ll be able to keep around, but if they’re contending, they can’t trade him at the deadline. He would have to stick around for a push, and then he would walk. 

Meanwhile, the Braves are pushing to have a top-five payroll in the league for next season. That puts them in the position to take on one of the two possible free-agent signings or take on a contract extension in a potential trade. 

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Atlanta, GA

Man arrested in deadly northwest Atlanta shooting

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Man arrested in deadly northwest Atlanta shooting


A 29-year-old man is accused of murder after a Saturday night shooting in northwest Atlanta.

What we know:

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Xavier Postell was arrested on Sunday in connection with the fatal shooting on Allen Temple Ct NW. 

Postell was taken to the Fulton County Jail and booked on a murder charge. 

Atlanta police officers were called to reports of a person shot on Allen Temple Ct NW around 8:45 p.m.

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When they arrived, they found a man who had been shot. He was rushed to Grady Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

What we don’t know:

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Police have not released the name of the man who died. Investigators are still working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and what led up to the violence.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Atlanta Police Department. 

AtlantaCrime and Public SafetyNews
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Falcons land new No. 2 CB, slot WR in PFSN’s 7-round mock draft

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Falcons land new No. 2 CB, slot WR in PFSN’s 7-round mock draft



Atlanta was projected to take San Diego State CB Chris Johnson in Round 2.

Like the other 31 NFL teams, the Atlanta Falcons are ramping up their scouting ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. On Friday, the team hosted two local prospects on pre-draft visits. Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst and Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller met with the team in Flowery Branch.

Hurst and Miller are both potential targets for Atlanta due to their current draft projections and the team’s needs. The Falcons are reportedly focusing on the wide receiver and defensive tackle positions. However, pre-draft visits and insider intel have little bearing on what actually happens during the draft.

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In fact, there’s a decent chance that the team will go in a completely different direction than most draft analysts anticipate. The Falcons have other needs at cornerback, offensive tackle and linebacker, which some could argue are equally as pressing.

PFSN analyst Alec Elijah released a new seven-round mock draft in which the Falcons make all five of their current picks without any trades. In Round 2, the team lands a new No. 2 cornerback in San Diego State’s Chris Johnson.

Round 2, Pick 48: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

“Beyond A.J. Terrell, the Falcons have been searching for consistency at corner, particularly from defenders who can stay glued to receivers in coverage,” wrote Elijah. “With the way the board has played out, landing San Diego State’s Chris Johnson would be a strong boost to the secondary, giving Atlanta a reliable running mate opposite Terrell.”

Johnson would be an intriguing choice in Round 2 if he’s still on the board at pick No. 48. Last season, Johnson recorded four interceptions and a Pro Football Focus grade of 91.6 (92.4 coverage grade). He’s currently rated as the 46th overall prospect on PFF’s 2026 big board.

In the later rounds of PFSN’s mock draft, the Falcons added Boise State guard Kage Casey, Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson, Alabama defensive tackle Tim Keenan III and Ole Miss offensive tackle Diego Pounds.

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Thompson is a wildly productive slot receiver who recorded 1,054 receiving yards on just 57 catches (18.5 yards per catch) last season. Atlanta needs more depth, particularly in the slot where Olamide Zaccheaus is the only established player.

As for Keenan and Pounds, both could fill depth/developmental roles in Atlanta next season. Check out all five Falcons picks in PFSN’s mock draft below.

Falcons’ picks in PFSN’s 7-round mock draft

  • Round 2, Pick 48: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego St.
  • Round 3, Pick 79: G Kage Casey, Boise St.
  • Round 4, Pick 122: WR Brenen Thompson, Miss. St.
  • Round 6, Pick 215: DT Tim Keenan III, Alabama
  • Round 7, Pick 231: OT Diego Pounds, Ole Miss

The 2026 NFL Draft is just two weeks away, starting on April 23. The Falcons’ first pick won’t come until the second round (pick No. 48 overall).



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Braves News: Atlanta destroys Cleveland, Sean Murphy update, short-term pitching plans

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Braves News: Atlanta destroys Cleveland, Sean Murphy update, short-term pitching plans


The Atlanta Braves are off to a very strong start in 2026, and they are certainly more enjoyable to watch than they were at the beginning of last season. At 9-5, the Braves are in their rightful spot at the top of the NL East, and they managed to do it with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II dealing with rotten luck when it comes to batted ball luck. At least both managed to go deep on Friday.

With Martin Perez set to take the mound on Saturday (fingers crossed that that isn’t a disaster), here is a look at some of the news around the Braves as we get into the weekend.

Braves News: Atlanta annihilated the Guardians on Friday while Jose Suarez struggled again

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Most of the news from Friday’s game was great. Bryce Elder continued to defy logic and throw a decent game, although he wasn’t as efficient as we had seen. Acuña Jr., Harris, and Matt Olson all went deep, and the offense carried the Braves to an 11-5 win.

However, not all of the performances were good. After going 0-4, new addition Mike Yastrzemski saw his average to start the season drop to .190 and his OPS drop to a paltry .592. We also got a clear look at why Jose Suarez shouldn’t be on Atlanta’s roster for much longer, as he gave up three earned runs in less than an inning of work.

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Braves News: Start of Sean Murphy’s rehab got pushed back a few days

Fans have been eager to see when Sean Murphy would return, and it looked like it could be very soon when the news broke that he was set to begin a rehab assignment in Gwinnett on Friday. Murphy has been out since last September, recovering from hip surgery.

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However, Murphy’s debut got pushed back a few days, but not because he had a setback. According to Braves beat writer Mark Bowman, Murphy has some sort of family matter to attend to this weekend and needed to postpone his rehab assignment until Tuesday. Hopefully, everything is okay.

Braves News: Don’t expect Atlanta to call up Didier Fuentes or JR Ritchie very soon

There were rumblings on the internets that the Braves would be calling Didier Fuentes back up to the majors in the next week. If Reynaldo Lopez’s suspension was going to actually make him miss a start, or the Braves would mercifully cut bait on Suarez and/or Perez, that would make a lot of sense to do.

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However, it doesn’t sound like such a move will happen in the next week. According to another report from Bowman, the Braves’ pitching plan is pretty set for the next week or so, and it keeps everyone on their usual schedule or gives them an extra day of rest. If Fuentes and JR Ritchie keep pitching well down at Triple-A, we probably won’t have to wait much longer to see them get their chance.



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