The Atlanta Braves bolstered their starting pitching depth Sunday night, acquiring right-hander Tyler Mahle from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-hander Anthony Molina.
Robert Murray first reported the deal, with subsequent confirmation from Ken Rosenthal, Mark Feinsand, and others. The trade comes as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches and the Braves, sitting atop the NL East with one of the stronger records in the National League, look to fortify a rotation that has been tested by injuries and inconsistency behind ace Chris Sale.
Mahle, 31, signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Giants last offseason after a strong but abbreviated 2025 with the Texas Rangers, where he posted a 2.18 ERA in 16 starts before shoulder fatigue limited him. This season with San Francisco he has gone 3-9 with a 5.13 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 89 strikeouts, and 37 walks across 94 2/3 innings in 18 starts.
The overall numbers are modest, but Mahle has shown better form in recent outings. He missed time in late May and June with a left hamstring strain. Since returning, he has worked to a 3.79 ERA with a 3.63 FIP over seven starts and 38 innings. His July included a 2.82 ERA across four appearances. A veteran of more than 800 major-league innings with the Reds, Twins, Rangers, and Giants, Mahle offers the Braves a known quantity who can slot into the middle or back of the rotation and provide innings in the stretch run.
In return, the Giants receive Anthony Molina, a 24-year-old Venezuelan right-hander. Atlanta claimed Molina off waivers from the Colorado Rockies in December 2025 and later outrighted him. He has spent most of 2026 with Triple-A Gwinnett, where he posted a 3-2 record and 3.64 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings across 18 appearances (nine starts). His major-league track record remains limited and uneven—career 2-2 with a 6.8-plus ERA in roughly 99 innings, mostly with Colorado—making him a low-cost depth piece for a Giants club that is clearly in sell mode.
For Atlanta, the move addresses a clear need. The rotation has leaned heavily on Sale while dealing with absences and uneven production from other arms. Adding a starter with Mahle’s experience and recent competence gives manager Walt Weiss another option as the club pushes toward October. The price—a young arm with modest big-league results—keeps the cost manageable and preserves higher-upside prospects.
Mahle becomes eligible for free agency after the season. For now, he gives the Braves another arm capable of taking the ball every fifth day as they try to turn a strong regular-season position into a deeper postseason run. The Giants, meanwhile, continue clearing veteran salary and adding organizational depth as they look ahead.
