The Atlanta Braves have had an aggressive start to the MLB offseason and hot stove season, but that doesn’t mean they should stop making additions. After addressing the bullpen with the additions of Robert Suarez, Joel Payamps, and Ian Hamilton, the Braves’ pitching staff should be under less pressure in 2026.
However, GM Alex Anthopoulos has gone on record to say Atlanta needs to add another impact arm, and they could do so by either signing a player or trading for a pitcher. Atlanta has been rumored to be interested in Mitch Keller as a possible trade target, and the Braves have also been urged to sign Zac Gallen off the free agent market. Both guys will be costly, and the Braves might want to take a more cost-effective approach, considering they’ve already spent over $100 million this offseason.
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Recent Poll Suggests the Braves Should Add a Starter
As currently constructed, the Braves’ rotation features many arms, but over the past two seasons, it has been the same song and dance: injuries, injuries, injuries. The top of the Braves’ rotation might be among the best in baseball with Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach. Spencer Strider is likely the No.3 option at this point, but he does not look like his former self.
Grant Holmes had flashes of being a productive starter in 2025, but was also sidelined due to injury. The same can be said for AJ Smith-Shawver and Reynoldo Lopez, who missed much of the year dealing with injury. For Lopez, he pitched 0 innings in 2025, and it’s unclear what his status is entering the upcoming season.
GettyChris Sale winds up for a pitch against the Diamondbacks.
MLBTradeRumors.com recently had a little bit of fun with its readers by running a poll on whether or not the Braves should add a starter this offseason, and at the time of writing this, the option “yes, they’ll add a surefire starter to their rotation before Opening Day” has received nearly 53% of the votes.
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Should the Braves Add a Starter?
As every team in MLB does, the Braves could use some help with their pitching staff depth heading into next season, to ensure that if they do deal with injuries in the rotation, it doesn’t hurt them further because a lack of options.
Does that mean Atlanta needs to go out and acquire one of the top starters available in Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, or Zac Gallen? No, Atlanta likely can’t afford to hand an AAV contract of north than $20 million, which is likely what either of those players is going to demand.
Instead, Atlanta should consider adding a value-arm starter like Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell, or Patrick Corbin. The Braves need to add an arm that can take the ball every fifth day and provide meaningful innings in either the fourth or fifth rotation spot.
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