Braves fans haven’t been in this situation often, talking about next year’s needs with seven weeks remaining in the season. But that’s the kind of season it’s been in Atlanta. From underperformances to injuries, this team has failed in all facets, leaving Alex Anthopoulos with a lengthy offseason to-do list.

Atlanta Braves Needs For 2026

Multiple Starting Pitchers

The Braves cannot avoid this issue any longer. Alex Anthopoulos has never been the type of GM that likes to participate in the always hot market for starting pitchers. They typically get overpaid in free agency and are almost impossible to acquire via trade. With that being said, they don’t have a choice but to bring in multiple starting arms. Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Spencer Strider is an encouraging start, but the injuries to the rest of the staff have the rotation at the top of the list of the Braves’ needs.

AJ Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery and is likely to miss all of next season. Grant Holmes is dealing with a similar issue, but he’s actually trying to rehab it without surgery in hopes of pitching in 2026. That would be a massive development for the Braves. Holmes was one of the few bright spots this season, but even if he is able to avoid surgery, there’s no way the Braves can rely on him as a starting pitcher going into 2026. The same can be said for Reynaldo Lopez, who missed nearly all of this season due to a shoulder injury that he suffered because of the increased workload as he made the transition from the bullpen to the rotation.

At the very least, the Braves need to add one impact arm along with another veteran that can eat innings at the back of the rotation.

A Complete Reconstruction of the Bullpen

The Braves entire pitching staff is in really rough shape. With Raisel Iglesias set to become a free agent, they’ll need to spend on a closer. Pierce Johnson and Dylan Lee give the club a little hope as set-up men, but aside from them, it’s nothing but questions.

Grant Holmes, Reynaldo Lopez, and Joe Jimenez could all be contributors in a perfect world, but there are injury concerns with each of them. Perhaps a couple of farmhands — like Jhancarlos Lara and Hayden Harris — make a name for themselves over the final two months of the season. That would be a very positive development. Regardless, this unit needs a complete makeover. At least one high leverage reliever and a closer feels like a must, and that’s not going to be cheap.

A Middle Infielder

Expecting the Braves to add multiple starters, multiple high leverage relievers, and multiple middle infielders is probably wishful thinking. They could probably get by with Ozzie Albies and an upgrade at shortstop or vice versa, but there’s no question they have to get better up the middle. Allen, while elite defensively, is one of the worst offensive players in the sport, and Albies’ production fell off a cliff this season. Having one of them in the lineup can be overlooked, but together, they have been a disaster. The Braves will be in the market for at least one middle infielder this offseason.

At Least One Outfielder

I say at least one outfielder because the Braves really should consider moving Ronald Acuña Jr. to a full-time DH role. As good as he is in right field, they have to start thinking about protecting him because the injuries are already adding up. If he gets hurt, this team doesn’t have a chance to compete.

But aside from right field, Jurickson Profar has done absolutely nothing to prove he’s deserving of starting in left field next season. It’s overwhelmingly evident the steroids were the reason for his one-off breakout season ten years into his major-league career. Because the Braves still owe him $28 million after this season, they are unlikely to cut ties with him. But at the very least, competition and depth must be brought in. Not doing so would be negligence on the part of Alex Anthopoulos.

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