In a recent interview, Alex Anthopoulos confirmed pitching would be a “point of emphasis” for the Braves this offseason. The bullpen could use a complete makeover, especially with Raisel Iglesias set to test free agency at season’s end. Signing a closer and at least one more high leverage arm feels like the bare minimum; however, most of the Braves dollars this winter should be focused on bringing in another frontline starter.
Atlanta’s rotation was decimated by injuries this season. Getting those guys back should go a long way in the Braves being competitive next year, but expectations for pitchers coming off serious injuries must be tempered. There’s no telling what Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo Lopez, and Grant Holmes will provide the Braves rotation next season, and AJ Smith-Shawver is likely to miss all of 2026 after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier in the year.
Even the guys that are healthy right now come with concerns of their own. Chris Sale has an injury history longer than the line at the men’s restroom on dollar beer night, and Spencer Strider has not responded well in his first season back from InternalBrace surgery.
To put things in perspective, Joey Wentz — a waiver claim who’s been a pleasant surprise — currently ranks third among Braves pitchers in fWAR, and Bryce Elder leads the team in innings pitched. That’s not the profile of a World Series-caliber rotation.
The Braves rotation does not feature enough healthy, top-end talent, and the depth is almost non-existent. Some second-half emergences, such as Hurston Waldrep coming into his own, are encouraging. There are also a few prospect arms on the cusp of the majors, but none of those developments should deter the Braves from aggressively pursuing starting pitching this offseason.
At minimum, Atlanta needs one proven frontline starter and an experienced depth arm. That won’t come cheap, but failing to address the rotation has haunted this team every year since their 2021 championship run. Injuries to starters are inevitable; not preparing for them is organizational negligence — the very negligence that has kept the Braves from reaching their ultimate goal for four straight seasons.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
