Braves acquire Lane Thomas from Royals, receive weak trade grade

The Atlanta Braves traded for outfielder Lane Thomas from the Kansas City Royals in a four-player deal on August 2, 2026. ESPN's Bradford Doolittle assigned a 'C-' grade to the Braves for the transaction, citing Thomas' modest performance this season, including a.232 batting average and.719 OPS. The Braves also brought in left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter, sending right-handed pitcher Lucas Braun and left-handed pitcher Carter Holton to Kansas City. This first move of the trade deadline has drawn critical review, particularly given the Braves' position amid strong competition in the National League, from the Los Angeles Dodgers, who recently acquired pitcher Tarik Skubal. Additional moves may be necessary for the Braves to improve their standing at the deadline.

• 3:17 PMYahoo Sports — Braves get unexpectedly weak grade from ESPN for Lane Thomas trade with Royals