The Braves took a real step toward tightening the back end of their bullpen on Thursday, but the move also sharpened the next question on their offseason list: who is going to get them to those late innings in the first place?
Atlanta announced a three-year, $35 million deal with Evan Phillips on X, formerly Twitter, and the contract gives the club another proven arm for the relief mix. Phillips will make $11 million in both 2027 and 2028, then $13 million in 2029.
That kind of commitment helps the bullpen, no question. But it does not solve the more pressing issue sitting in front of it. The Braves still need more certainty in the rotation, and re-signing Tyler Mahle looks like the cleanest way to address that.
Mahle made a strong case for himself after arriving at the trade deadline, putting up a 1.99 ERA in nine regular-season starts for Atlanta. He also made clear he would be open to coming back.
A reunion would come through free agency, which matters because it gives the Braves a chance to add him without giving up players in a trade. It also gives them a chance to build around what he showed without treating those nine starts like a full season’s worth of proof.
That stretch was enough to create interest. It was not enough to hand him a contract as if the sample size guarantees the same results next year. Atlanta should be willing to go multiyear, but only within a range that reflects the risk.
The rotation picture behind the top names still has plenty of uncertainty. Chris Sale, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder give the Braves a starting base, but health, readiness, and workload remain open questions after that.
#Braves Sign Evan Phillips: pic.twitter.com/2ozx27CQUG
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 12, 2026
Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach both come with elbow concerns, and Atlanta cannot simply bank on both of them being dependable through 2027. That makes another established starter more valuable, not less.
Mahle would give the Braves more room to sort through the rest of the staff without forcing every unknown to work out perfectly. It would also let younger pitchers compete for roles instead of being pushed into jobs the roster cannot comfortably support.
Phillips strengthens the late innings, but his arrival should not be mistaken for a reason to accept more volatility earlier in games. The bullpen can finish things off. The rotation still has to hand it a lead.
There are other areas Atlanta needs to address, too. Shortstop and left field remain on the list, and overcommitting to one pitcher could make those decisions harder.
That is why the Braves need to keep the Mahle pursuit disciplined. The fit is obvious, but so is the risk. Medical evaluation matters, and the price has to stay within a defined budget.
No deal is certain, and Atlanta needs alternatives if the market pushes beyond what it values him at. Even so, Mahle should be the priority now.
Phillips gives the Braves a better way to close games. Bringing back Mahle would give them a better shot at reaching the closing stage with control intact.
In Other News...
Rowdy Tellez Forced A Real Braves Postseason Roster Debate
Rowdy Tellez barely had time to settle in before becoming part of a real October conversation for the Braves. Signed as a minor league free agent in March 2026 after his run in the World Baseball Classic, he spent most of the season on the margins, then turned a small role into something more meaningful with a pinch-hit home run and a few timely walks. In a postseason where every bench spot matters, that kind of production can force a team to rethink what it values.
The Braves ultimately carried Tellez on the postseason roster, a decision that came at the expense of another player and underscored how much they trusted his bat in a short series. He only appeared in seven regular-season games and three NLDS games, but even limited contributions can carry outsized weight when a club is trying to squeeze every possible edge out of its roster. For Atlanta, the debate around Tellez was less about volume than about whether his presence could tilt a game in a way the alternatives could not. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Are Chasing An Outfield Upgrade Braves Fans Will Notice
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Among the names drawing attention are Japanese outfielders Teruaki Sato and Seiya Suzuki, with Suzuki standing out as a potential free-agent target after finishing his contract with the Cubs. If the Phillies land a real upgrade there, it would be another reminder that the division race is likely to get even more demanding before spring training arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Braves May Have Found A Bullpen Option In An Unlikely Place
Tyler LaPortes path to the Braves has been anything but conventional. A former shortstop who moved to the mound after multiple injuries and setbacks, he signed with Atlanta in February 2025 and has spent the past two years working his way through the minors, with stops in independent ball and a steady stream of mentorship helping shape him into a pitcher worth watching.
His latest step came in the Arizona Fall League, where he looked the part of a relief prospect and gave the organization another arm to evaluate for the bullpen mix. For a Braves system that always seems to be searching for usable late-inning depth, LaPortes rise from unlikely conversion project to Fall League performer makes him one of the more interesting names to track heading into the next phase of his development. [Read more 🡒]