The Braves have been aggressive this offseason, signing four free agents (Raisel Iglesias, Ha-Seong Kim, Robert Suarez and Mike Yastrzemski) to deals that pay eight figures annually. They also bolstered their infield depth with the Mauricio Dubón trade, taking on nearly $5MM for the difference in arbitration salaries between Dubón and Nick Allen.
Their free agent activity has already been out of character compared to Alex Anthopolous' previous offseasons. They love to re-sign their players, so it wasn't a huge surprise they brought Kim and Iglesias back, yet they hadn't given out more than one free agent deal with a $10MM+ annual value in an offseason since 2020. Their four such contracts this offseason are more than they'd dished out in the previous four winters combined.
It's still not enough. They've ticked off shortstop and late-inning relief. Those were indeed key needs, but neither was as worrisome as the rotation. Injuries exposed Atlanta's lack of starting pitching depth in 2025. They haven't done anything to address that thus far, and they should be as motivated as any team in MLB to add a mid-rotation arm before Opening Day.
The Braves will enter the season with a rotation that'd line up as Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep and one of Reynaldo López or Grant Holmes. If they could push a "turn off injuries" button, they'd be in excellent shape. Every team wishes they could keep pitchers healthy, of course, but the Braves look particularly vulnerable. AJ Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery in June and isn't coming back until the second half at the earliest. Their other six starters have limited track records or durability questions, and no one behind that group should be starting games at the MLB level.
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AA prefers the scrap heap. He could trade for Peralta or someone else, but it’s more likely he picks up seventeen throwaways from other teams.
Trading for 1 year of Peralta would likely require giving up Waldrep, Ritchie or Caminiti plus. I hope that does NOT happen. The most likely starter would be Waldrep because the Brewers will want someone they can immediately stick in the rotation. That makes zero sense for the Braves. The goal is to add rotation depth. If you are subtracting part of your depth to add Peralta you STILL need depth. And just for the record, Suarez, Kim, Yaz, Kiinley are not “throwaways”.
I think the seventeen throwaways he was referring to was how AA handled the bullpen last year.
None of them are starters, the subject of the article.
Off-season moves have been great….But the #1 need was SP imo and the available list keeps dwindling. I was hoping this would be the year they finally signed a FA pitcher to a big contract, guess not.
Of the top starters only 2 are gone. I definitely would not want Cease on that deal he signed. I was hoping for Ranger so him going to Boston hurts. But I’m confident the Braves will add a starter and just hope they don’t have to give up a starter to do so. My guess now would be Bassett or Gallen.
I don’t see the Braves matching up in a Robbie Ray deal. Braves don’t have anything in the majors that the Giants would want and Atlanta willing to trade. Albies is too little for Robbie Ray, even with Ray a 1-year rental.
I’d rather the Giants trade Ray to the Cubs for Nico Hoerner (also a 1-year rental).
Atlanta isn’t trading Albies anyway. He’s too big of a locker room piece.
Why would you want a guy whose FIP for his career is higher than his actual ERA? No thank you
Starting pitching was nowhere close to being the top overall need.
What was the #1 need than in your opinion? Lineup is set in stone minus SS and its not like Allen was the main reason we missed the playoffs. Bullpen?…When we’re trotting out guys like Carasco, Fedde, Elder, Quantrill, etc. the last 2 months of the season it seems to me like SP is a major issue.
Dude, did you block that season out of your mind completely? The only reason they signed those scrubs is because EVERYONE got hurt. Their entire Opening Day rotation was all injured at some point. No team recovers from that unless they have a crazy good offense.
So we’re guaranteed there won’t be any injuries this season? Funny thing about injuries is when players get older and get injured they tend start becoming more injured. Plus all the injuries minus Sale were all of the Shoulder/Elbow kind which i would have to imagine you know are the worst kind…Why do all us Braves fans argue over addressing SP? Some of you guys will die on that hill every off season making excuses to not sign #3 or better SP. It’s strange.
“Die on that hill” because signing long term free agent pitching is the most inefficient use of resources possible. Braves have plenty of pitching depth. No need to pay for the past performance of free agent pitchers—who are just as likely to get injured as any pitcher already in the Braves organization. What’s strange is insisting that the only way to get pitching is to sign big money free agents and lose draft picks and ifa money to do so.
I guess I’m bias because I tend to view SP as the most important position on the field any given game….Trading for pitchers, signing extensions, signing free agents, etc. all cost something and have inherent risks no matter how we spin it.
I don’t disagree that pitching is extremely important. I do believe that the worst way to acquire it is via the FA market. The worst of that market is pitching attached to QO’s that require teams to overpay on long term deals that are likely to be underwater less than halfway through the deal. Better to draft, develop, and trade for it. If they have to shop in the FA market, stay away from the big money arms. Pitchers may be “the most important position on the field.” They’re also the most likely to get injured. Keep the investment in them as low as possible and don’t pay even more for them by wasting salary on free agents when the organization is already over the luxury tax.
And not a priority
Braves’ promises going into offseason regarding starting pitching are a million dollars worth of promises worth a nickel upon delivery.
Prefers the scrap heap?
“The Braves have been aggressive this offseason, signing four free agents (Raisel Iglesias, Ha-Seong Kim, Robert Suarez and Mike Yastrzemski) to deals that pay eight figures annually. ”
Are you this stupid on purpose?
I think he means pitching, but I’d argue that if you find a Triple Crown/Cy Young winner on the trash heap even once — wouldn’t you go back to that well?
But is there also an in-between considering they had a 44M deal pulled last year to Hoffman after a failed physical (where he’d be in the rotation, presumably). They extended Strider very early for 75M. Extended Sale before throwing a pitch. None of this is trash heap.
If you are saying AA only shops the dumpsters for starters specifically, is that what you thought about acquiring and extending Sale? Is that what you thought about Reynaldo Lopez? The rest of our starters are developed by the Braves. Kind of difficult making that into a complaint, right? I kind of think you, me and other Braves fans are just getting a little twitchy.
@Bream. Pitching is absolutely a concern. We had some significant injuries and more than one starter might need some time to build up.
We are a top 5 payroll in baseball. Regardless of your silly opinion, the effort is clearly being made to build a well rounded team. All those minor transactions are the same thing that every team does in an effort to build depth or hopefully find a diamond in the rough. Now I will admit, he doesn’t spend big on like a Tucker or Bo. But the money is distributed pretty well in an effort to build a well rounded team. He does annoyingly spend too much on the bullpen compared to other teams but again, he’s spending. So this mindset needs to stop
Braves are currently #8 in payroll..AAV for luxury tax purposes. We have no chance to be top five unless one of the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Yankees or Blue Jays secede from MLB.
I’m sure AA remembers when he looks on his mantle and sees the MLB Exec of the Year 2022 award…to go along with his 2015 one, or he may have hard time seeing it on a sunny day while wearing his 2021 WS Champ ring. That thing could blind ya, ya know.
How many GMs have the Hawks/Falcons collectively been through since AA started? How many playoff appearances? How many lottery picks? Being ‘the best’ is a matter of opinion, but he’s brought a stability and competitiveness back to the club that was lacking for years.
With the exception of last year I think AA has done a fabulous job, it was not stated but I’m going to say he was told to do what he did last year, resetting. There’s no way to bat 1000, but most of his deals have been great with us. Some of these contracts signed this year, teams are going to regret. The only one the Braves regretted was last year with Ozuna.
Yes, resetting under the tax was an organizational decision last year. Can expect that every three years going forward. All the more reason to add a quality starting pitcher before opening day…two year window until another reset in ’28.
May be better to trade for a pitcher if one is needed so they don’t lose the PPI draft pick by signing a FA w/a QO.
The Braves top pitching prospects are nearing MLB .. Better to keep them .. Their pitchers need to stay healthy .. Their bullpen is much more flexible now ! Hopefully Ritchie makes the leap like a Waldrep … Caminiti will be fast tracked but maybe not all the way this year ..
I agree 100 TBrave,
Miles Mikolas. Cheap and easy.
and he sucks. no thanks
Fair enough. Maybe there’s some upside to a Walker Buehler flyer.
You’d still have to get another starter if you take a flyer on Buehler, cause he can’t be trusted to even be a #5 at the moment
“exposed their lack of depth” is a weird take. They had all 5 of their opening day rotation on the 60 day DL at the same time.
It wasn’t a lack of depth, they had quite a few other viable starters. But then several of them got injured as well.
It was one of the unluckiest rotations in recent history (healthwise).
Bryce Elder led the rotation in IP (156.1: 5.30 ERA/4.55 FiP) in ’25.
It’s true. They really aren’t lacking depth. It could be argued they may need more depth than most teams but they have like 9 options without taking into account any potential surprises with a Didier Fuentes or someone else. As to whether or not those options end up being solid enough-Id say it’s 50/50. In season trades could be an option.
Sale, Strider and Lopez all have extensive injury histories…call it bad luck or whatever. Braves need to plan on injuries….gotta add a starting pitcher who has consistently thrown 160+ innings/year.
It’s just complicated cause who would they add like that? A back end type would likely be on a one year deal and looking for a guaranteed spot to start the year. That would lead to Waldrep being sent to AAA and someone like Elder or Wentz being DFAd (out of options-very possible only one would stay on roster even as is). Certainly wouldn’t be worth it for a Patrick Corbin but I guess you could argue about some other guys. Maybe there is a higher impact move they could make. In that case I could see it I guess. I mean someone could get hurt in Spring too obviously but even the projections I am making are already assuming Holmes is gonna be hurt (who knows).
Unless Wentz has a great spring I would not be concerned about losing him if we sent him down. I doubt another team would be interested. Elder can assume the Chavez role in the pen..cover multiple low leverage innings.
His name is Chris Bassitt. He would fit perfectly behind Sale and Schwellenbach
Nah, Chris Bassitt doesn’t pass the Bryce Elder test.
As in Elder is projected to have a 4 to 4.5 ERA in 2026, while only making league minimum. So his replacement needs to be considerably better for the money they’ll be paid. Bassitt is also projected to have a similar ERA in the low 4 range while costing 15 to 19 Million
Lopez does not have an “extensive” injury history.
Maybe not extensive injury history but he also hasn’t shown he can handle a starting pitcher’s innings workload at this stage of his career. He’s been a reliever for most of his career.
That’s a given, not a solution. Finding some depth is needed. Due diligence in SP depth with what’s remaining by Atlanta should have been addressed already. Framer Valdez, too expensive. Buehler, possibly. Quintana, probably not but possible. Something should be done before Spring Training begins, but preferably sooner than that.
The Padres, Brewers and Phillies all have at least three starters with extensive injury histories. This is normal for rotations. Its not normal when you have a rotation that is very injury comparable to the rest of the league to go down in such an unlikely way.
Bringing back Bartolo Colon would make a heckuva’ splash.
That wouldn’t be a splash, it would be a tidal wave
Hail to the Yeah!
I am not sure they NEED to make a rotation splash.
Yes there are a lot of questions with their rotation and health…but when healthy Sale, Schwellenbach, Strider, and Lopez are a very strong 1-4. Waldrep and/or Holmes rounding out the rotation are very solid options.
It would be nice to get a solid inning eater to help when injuries happen.
Now I’m 100% supportive of the Braves trading for Peralta, but stay completely away from Gallen
Re: Peralta — it really depends on what they’re asking for. You can make a case that Waldrep can headline, especially if there’s mutual extension interest, with the added benefit of being able to recoup a comp pick, if he bolts.
IMHO, they NEED to make a pitching addition to prevent last year, but they don’t NEED a splash. Some MiLB arms are further in their development and can contribute in ’26 so they wouldn’t have to call up an unweathered 19 y/o SP like they did in ’25 (Didier Fuentes).
I agree added MiLB arms that could contribute is the best option.
The key words ‘when healthy’ are the problem. They’re never fully healthy
I agree you’re not ever fully healthy…
Sale
Schwellenbach
Strider
Lopez
Waldrep
Holmes
Elder
That is Braves 7 most viable options for the rotation Holmes and Elder are also both out of options. Yes they both could start out the year in the bullpen.
However to “increase” depth they would really need someone with options or a MiLB contract like RUNDMC suggested. The more I think about it, a trade for Peralta likely reduces the overall depth.
Chris Bassitt. 10-15 million a year.
That’s my pick
If 37 y/o Merrill Kelly got 2/40M…I don’t think 10-15M AAV is attainable.
2/36m is my guess and a fair offer for Bassitt, esp with spring training getting closer. Maybe even 2/34m with a club option and 4m buyout.
Bassitt is a quality arm and a quality human being. He’d be an excellent pickup.
Not happening
@Rocky: Bassitt was projected in the 50 Top FA Contest by the article’s author to get 2 years @$38M.
Good luck getting Chris Bassitt for 10-15milli..
I say 1yr-18mill or 2yr-36milli
You’re joking right? Merrill Kelly got 2/40 and him and Bassitt are the same age. And if you look at their stat totals from 2019-2025 (2019 is when Merrill started pitching), Bassitt wins in every category from WAR to K% No way Bassitt takes less than 2/40. 3rd guaranteed year or a higher AAV than what Merrill got is what it would probably take to get Bassitt.
The Kelly contract is quite understandable. Look at the 20M contracts Morton got. It’s not really fair tho to go back to 2019 when looking at a 37 year old pitcher. They are both less than what they were several years ago. But both would be great stabilizers in a rotation. I thought Bassitt should’ve been a Braves target when he got his last contract. He’s made 30 starts every year since then. I would be happy with him.
The Braves will never ever trade Ozzie Albies, you can scratch that off the list of possibilities..
He is Acuna’s best friend and everyone in the organization knows it. They would never upset him to pick up a depth starter.
The rotation was extremely unlucky last year. There’s no reason to overreact and sign a bloated long term free agent contract.
And contrary to popular narrative, the rotation was not the reason the Braves were DOA by the All-star break last year.
Yeah, the bats sucked for the first half of the year and then were uneven in the second half
The rotation was not the reason for the bad start. But by the ASG the injuries to the rotation was the reason the season was hopeless.
If Bichette signs with the Phillies we’re clearly not going to out hit them so bolstering the rotation is a must. Run prevention….if we’re throwing Elder or unproven pitchers out there for 150+ innings that becomes difficult. Let’s go AA. I think our bullpen is better than theirs and with Wheeler’s injury concern and Ranger leaving we have an opening.
If Lopez is healthy he is guaranteed a rotation spot. Although Waldrep is definitely the most likely #5, if he struggled with his control in spring he may start in AAA. His leap forward in control was quite abrupt and unproven over a longer period. With two of their depth guys being out of options they have some incentive to monitor Waldrep fairly carefully.
The Braves have five legit contenders for the #5 rotation spot. Waldrep, Holmes, Elder and two lefties, Wentz and Jose Suarez. Behind them, should we encounter another year of multiple injuries are Ritchie, Fuentes, and next year, Caminiti. No wasteful contracts, please.
The idea of selling paid subscription upsells off Mr. Franco’s unoriginal headline would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic.
Lucas Braun is another depth option at AAA in 26. Owen Murphy will be in AAA by 2027—if not the latter half of of 2026.
Caminiti is at least 2 years away, even by Braves quick promotion standards
Do they want a top starter like Valdez or Gallen, in the trade market Gore or Peralta? Or are they willing to score lower for someone like Zack Littell, or even lower, like Tomoyuki Sugano?
The Braves need to answer this question.
They aren’t going to bother with Valdez or Gallen because they would forfeit the Drake Baldwin pick and the slot money that goes with it.
@Astros71: Littell or Quintana are reasonable options. Signing a QO FA starter and giving up the PPI draft pick gained from Baldwin’s ROY win isn’t. Wasting resources on Gioloto or Buehler shouldn’t be either.
trust in the double aa….
ommmm
Red Sox are a great trade partner. And I heard they might be looking for left handed relief. Aaron bummer and one of wentz/elder for a SP?
Whitlock is the prize I’d be after. But Crawford is intriguing.
Good luck getting Whitlock. Better try getting our Abreu.
Not really interested in abreu. Love Whitlock’s ability to start to come out of the bullpen.
Really? Oh fine, because the Astros don’t need to trade Abreu. The ability to get Whitlock is even lower.
Chance Abreu is traded: 15%
Chance Whitlock is traded: 0.01%
You should read the article Braves don’t need a reliever but could use another starter. Abreu makes no sense to acquire.
Ozzie Albies should be pretty pissed at your implication (based on the linked article that didn’t even mention him at all) that pursuing Donovan or Hoerner is aiming for a higher tier than poor little Ozzie O.
At one time Ozzie was a top ten 2B…..not anymore.
Verlander $15.1MM.
It’s looking more and more like it, but his wife might need to officially change her name, like Melvin. Need someone for young Chris to look up to!
Braves are going to sign Giolito for pennies on the dollar at the closing bell.
I think the Braves just got unlucky last year. This year they could be back to being good.
I concur! Go Braves.
I like Singer from the Reds. He is reliable and solid. He makes 12 million. The Reds are looking for bats though.
Maybe bring in a third team for a good old 3way deal.
YEah 3 team
A little too late for Señor Suárez, amigos…
I appreciate the article and work these guys do at MLBTR however, Franco has bashed the Braves and the decisions AA has made on numerous occasions throughout the offseason. I personally am excited for the moves AA has made. Dude literally has remade the bullpen and got guys that will shorten the game to 5-6 innings for the Starters. Issues last year were yes injuries with the SP’s, but the issue they truly had all year was they couldn’t hit. Injuries once again hampered Riley and Albies but the other guys just didn’t get it done. Did anyone else notice that Hyers two assistant hitting coaches weren’t brought back? IMHO, the only reason Hyers is still on the staff is because he had a 2 year deal. I listened Chipper on a podcast and they asked him straight out if he thought he could be a good hitting coach and if he was going to be more engaged this season and he without hesitation said absolutely! To me, writing is on the wall one of the reasons Walt got the manager job was because Chipper advocated for him. Yes another starter would make this offseason complete, but It wont mean jack if these dudes hit like they did last year. Go Braves!!!
I’m not a Braves fan but this article is quite an opinion piece. Every team (except maybe one) needs to fill out its rotation depth, Braves included, and many can do so without having to make big “splash”
Counter Argument to the headline:
No, they do not.
Chris Basdit makes sense
Chris Bassitt makes a ton of sense.
I’m just waiting for the Braves to figure out they need to tear down and start over eventually because they already got back to WS and won, that usually should mean break up team and rebuild unless your the Dodgers or Yankees.
Wha…? I don’t want to discredit that 2021 WS win, but that team wasn’t nearly as good as most of the other teams since (2025 notwithstanding). 2023 was a juggernaut that went cold when it mattered most. They haven’t won in the playoffs with Acuña and we’re still waiting on this team to pull it altogether (pitching/hitting) in the playoffs. Also, in a rebuild, you get pennies/nickels on the dollar. A rebuild is more likely if they had a single owner (or small group), but not likely with one with a board and publicly-traded stock, IMHO.
Does ATL lineup w/ PIT for a Mitch Keller trade?
Unfortunately, AA likes going behind his local Taco Bell and grabbing players out of the dumpster for the most part. If there was just one trade that I have my fingers crossed for… that is Freddy Peralta. He would be a great addition to our team and I would definitely feel more comfortable with our upcoming season.