The Atlanta Braves are in the middle of a very important offseason. After a disappointing 2025 season that resulted in the Braves being below .500, this offseason gives the front office a chance to retool the roster so that the team has a better chance of competing next season.
Atlanta has already shown some semblance of early aggression this offseason by re-signing Raisel Iglesias and trading away Nick Allen. The Braves don’t need to make any drastic moves because of their strong core, but a few subtle moves could go a long way in the Braves having a better 2026 season. One player that the Braves could target this free agency is former Texas Rangers starter Tyler Mahle.
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Should the Braves Target Tyler Mahle in Free Agency
The Atlanta Braves likely aren’t going to get any piece of the pie in terms of signing the top-name free agent starters like Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez, or Ranger Suarez.
However, that doesn’t mean the Braves can’t target a cheaper starter, like Tyler Mahle, who can help solidify the rotation.
In 2025, Mahle posted a 2.18 ERA in 86.2 innings and 16 starts.
GettyTexas Rangers pitcher Tyler Mahle
Now, the draw to signing Tyler Mahle, and Braves’ GM Alex Anthopoulos is likely also contemplating this, but Mahle has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the last few seasons. The Braves have had a hard time retaining health out of their starters in the past two seasons.
However, if Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach are healthy, and Spencer Strider is more productive, Mahle wouldn’t be relied on as heavily to pitch 150+ innings.
Tyler Mahle was once a starter who could give 150-180 innings. His best season came in 2021 when he posted a 3.75 ERA over 33 starts and 180 innings with the Cincinnati Reds.
BaseballReference.com projects that Tyler Mahle will post a 3.26 ERA in 105 innings next season. That is a good sign that he’s predicted to pitch that many innings.
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Braves Must Address Pitching This Offseason
It sounds cliché and redundant, but the Braves must address their pitching staff this offseason, and that means the bullpen as well.
Re-signing Raisel Iglesias is a good start, but Atlanta has to do more. Anthoupolus has a decision to make with Pierce Johnson, but with no real update to Joe Jimenez and Reynoldo Lopez, which leaves the Braves with just three or four trusted arms.
As for the starting rotation, the Braves also need help in this department, and it was perhaps the team’s biggest downfall last season. Towards the end of 2025, Atlanta’s rotation had been so depleted that they relied on starters like Carlos Carrasco and Erick Fedde, who have no business receiving meaningful innings.
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