The Atlanta Braves came into this offseason with one clear goal in mind: upgrade the rotation. President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos made that point back in November, saying the front office would be focused on starting pitching. And while some big names-Freddy Peralta, Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, Lucas Giolito-were linked to Atlanta over the past few months, the Braves haven’t made that splashy addition just yet.
Instead, the rotation picture remains largely unchanged, aside from a couple of low-risk veteran signings on minor league deals-Martin Perez and Carlos Carrasco. And now, with Spencer Schwellenbach set to open the season on the 60-day injured list due to elbow inflammation, the internal depth has taken a hit before pitchers and catchers have even settled into camp.
Still, Anthopoulos isn’t panicking. Speaking to reporters this week, he made it clear the Braves are still hunting for what he called a “playoff starter”-a guy who can step into a postseason rotation without hesitation.
“You can always make room for a front-line starter, right?” he said.
“That’s the one commodity or the one asset in this game that is not blocked.”
That’s the key here. Atlanta isn’t just looking to add another name to the pile.
This is about quality, not quantity. Anthopoulos said the team hasn’t pulled the trigger on a deal because they haven’t found a clear-cut upgrade over what they already have.
And he’s not just saying that to fill time at a press conference-he genuinely likes the top of this rotation.
Right now, the Braves are penciling in Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo López, and Grant Holmes as the top four starters. That fifth spot?
It’s up for grabs. With Schwellenbach sidelined, the competition is wide open.
Perez and Carrasco will be in the mix, as will younger arms like Hurston Waldrep, Bryce Elder, and Didier Fuentes.
The Braves have depth. What they don’t have-yet-is that surefire, top-of-the-rotation addition that could elevate them from contender to favorite.
Anthopoulos acknowledged that he’s still open to making a move if the right pitcher becomes available, but he’s not interested in simply raising the floor. He’s looking to raise the ceiling.
That approach is partly driven by confidence in the group already in-house. Anthopoulos pointed out that the health outlook has improved for a couple of key arms-specifically López and Holmes.
Back in November, both pitchers were question marks. Now, with Spring Training underway, the team has a much clearer picture.
López, for instance, was limited to just one start in 2025 due to shoulder surgery. Holmes, meanwhile, was quietly effective last season, starting 21 of his 22 appearances and logging over 115 innings before a partial UCL tear shut him down in late July. Instead of opting for Tommy John or internal brace surgery, Holmes is attempting to pitch through the injury-and so far, the Braves like what they’re seeing.
Of course, there’s still plenty of risk baked into this rotation. Sale and Strider both have their own injury histories, and Holmes is essentially working on borrowed time with that elbow. So while the Braves might not be actively seeking a depth starter, it’s fair to wonder if they’d pivot that way should the injury bug bite again.
As for those previously rumored targets, the options are quickly drying up. Gallen has re-upped with Arizona.
Bassitt signed with Baltimore. Peralta was dealt to the Mets.
Giolito remains unsigned, but it’s unclear how seriously the Braves are still pursuing him.
Now, we’ve seen Anthopoulos pull off surprise trades before-he’s not someone who tips his hand. So it wouldn’t be shocking to see Atlanta make a late move if the right arm becomes available. But at this point in the offseason, it’s slim pickings when it comes to frontline starters who are both available and affordable.
For now, it looks like the Braves are betting on internal improvement and better health. It’s not the flashiest offseason strategy, but if Sale stays healthy, Strider returns to form, and Holmes holds up, this rotation could still be dangerous come October.
And if the right deal comes along? Anthopoulos will be ready to strike.