The Braves are heading into an offseason where the rotation sits front and center, and Shota Imanaga has emerged as a name worth watching.
Atlanta reclaimed the NL East after briefly giving way to the Philadelphia Phillies, but the bigger issue now is what the staff looks like next season. Chris Sale is the one starter who seems locked into the Opening Day picture. Beyond him, the picture gets murkier fast.
“While it wasn't their downfall in the end, the starting rotation has been a constant thorn in the Atlanta Braves' side for multiple seasons now. For 2026, it was no different.
As the page turns to 2027, it's to see how it shakes up. There will be at least one guarantee.
Chris Sale is the ace. You probably guarantee that Bryce Elder is in the mix, too, along with Grant Holmes.
After that, we'll see what happens," SI's Harrison Smajovits wrote.
The concern only grows when you look at the injury questions hanging over Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep.
“The Atlanta Braves enter another offseason trying to solve the same puzzle: how to enhance their starting rotation. In 2026, they hoped Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep were the cavalry needed to solve the issues. But all three dealt with injuries and can't be counted on to pitch in 2027," The Athletic's Jesus Cano wrote.
That’s why SI’s Roman Janeiro sees Imanaga as a fit. He pointed to Jeremy Hefner’s work with the staff in 2026 and argued the Braves could use that same touch on another veteran arm.
“The good news, and the reason I think the Braves should take a flyer on the southpaw, is that Atlanta pitching coach Jeremy Hefner proved to be something of a secret weapon for the team in 2026. Hefner took a starting rotation ravaged by injuries and maximized the performance of names that might have otherwise gotten lost in the shuffle, such as Martín Pérez, Grant Holmes and Tyler Mahle, and turned Atlanta into a top-five staff.
Not to mention Ray Kerr and his postseason hero moment. All that to say, if there's anyone who can help refine Imanaga into giving up fewer home runs, Hefner would be that guy.
And if he could, Imanaga is exactly what the Braves need: an affordable veteran lefty to back up Chris Sale who keeps strikeouts high and walks low,” Janeiro wrote.
Imanaga would also give Atlanta something it badly needs: a dependable left-hander who can take the ball regularly. He played under a $22 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in 2026, and his profile lines up neatly with what the Braves are chasing - steady innings, strong command and a proven major league track record.
The appeal goes beyond just plugging a hole. Pairing Imanaga with Sale would give Atlanta a left-handed duo that could make life difficult for opposing lineups, while also adding another experienced presence to a clubhouse that needs stability on the mound.
For the Braves, this is about more than just adding depth. It’s about finding a starter who can stay healthy, miss bats and limit walks. Imanaga checks those boxes, and with Atlanta expected to be aggressive this offseason, he looks like the kind of move that fits the team’s biggest need.
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