The Braves are heading into another offseason with the same familiar problem staring them down: the rotation needs help, and it needs it badly. Chris Sale is set to be back, which gives Atlanta a real anchor, but the rest of the staff remains unsettled after injuries and inconsistency wrecked the picture in 2026.
That’s why Michael King suddenly looks like such an obvious name to watch. The former Yankees and Padres right-hander is now on the market after declining his player option with San Diego, putting one of the better arms available into play just as Atlanta starts sorting through its pitching needs.
“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.
King’s appeal is pretty easy to see. In 2026, he checked boxes that none of Atlanta’s starters could match last season.
He made 32 starts, logged more than 180 innings, and finished with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He also struck out 156 batters, while limiting hard contact to 32.7 percent, according to Baseball Savant, and pairing that with a solid groundball rate.
“His 2026 season will only fortify the reasoning. He did two things that no Braves starting pitcher can claim last season.
He made 32 starts and clocked over 180 innings pitched. He posted a 3.21 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP despite only posting 156 strikeouts in that time.
He achieved this by reducing hard contact (just 32.7%, according to Baseball Savant) and having a solid groundball rate,” Smajovits wrote. “Here is where the reality check comes in.
You can scream that he’s a fit until you’re red in the face, but they actually have to sign a starting pitcher. It’s not a Michael King issue.
It’s starting pitching in general.”
That’s the crux of it for Atlanta. King isn’t just another name on a list; he’s the kind of dependable starter the Braves desperately need behind Sale. He’s already shown he can work deep into games and hold up over a full season, which makes him a clean fit for a rotation that needs stability more than anything else.
King made $25 million with the Padres this season before turning down the rest of his deal, so Atlanta would almost certainly have to pay up to land him. But if the Braves want to add a high-impact arm and give Sale a legitimate running mate at the top of the rotation, King makes a lot of sense.
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Bubics recent track record gives Atlanta plenty to weigh. He has dealt with injuries and uneven results, but the left-handed look and the chance to buy low on a pitcher trying to reestablish his value make him the kind of arm Anthopoulos has targeted before. For now, it remains only a fit on paper, but it is the sort of possibility that could gain traction if the Braves decide to keep shopping in the one-year market. [Read more 🡒]
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Atlanta has been mentioned as a potential suitor because of its rotation needs, though nothing official has surfaced yet in terms of interest or contract offers. Tairas profile makes him the kind of name that fits the Braves broader search for arms, especially if they want options who can add depth and flexibility, but the real question is whether the posting process turns him into a genuine target for a team still sorting through its pitching plans. [Read more 🡒]