The Atlanta Braves find themselves at a pivotal crossroads with their starting rotation heading into 2026. The options are narrowing: either they roll with the arms currently in-house, or they make a move for one of the top remaining free-agent starters - namely Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito.
While there are always fringe possibilities via trades or lesser signings, those two scenarios are the most likely outcomes. But no matter which path they choose, one thing is becoming increasingly clear - Hurston Waldrep's spot in the rotation is far from guaranteed.
That might come as a surprise to Braves fans. Waldrep didn’t just hold his own when called up in 2025 - he impressed.
With a 2.88 ERA over 56.1 innings, he gave Atlanta a serious boost late in the season, showing poise, command, and a fastball-splitter combo that played well against big-league hitters. For a team with postseason aspirations, Waldrep looks like the kind of young arm you'd want taking the ball every fifth day.
But the Braves are trying to strike a delicate balance. It’s not just about having the best five starters right now - it’s about building the most complete, flexible 26-man roster by the end of spring training. And that’s where things get tricky for Waldrep.
Here’s the current rotation landscape: Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Spencer Schwellenbach are virtual locks. Barring injury, those three are penciled in. That leaves two spots - and while Waldrep certainly has the talent to claim one, roster logistics might work against him.
According to reporting, the key issue isn’t performance - it’s options. Waldrep still has minor league options remaining.
That alone could be enough to push him to Triple-A to start the season, regardless of how he looks in camp. Meanwhile, guys like Martin Perez (recently signed), Bryce Elder, Grant Holmes, and Joey Wentz do not have options left.
If the Braves want to keep as much pitching depth as possible, it makes sense - at least on paper - to stash Waldrep in the minors and retain the rest.
It’s a tough pill to swallow. Waldrep is arguably already better than Elder, and there are fair questions about what Perez can still offer at this stage in his career. But Atlanta didn’t bring these guys in for nothing - they’re here to provide depth, and the only way to keep that depth intact is by using the roster rules to their advantage.
So what does that mean in practice? If the Braves don’t add another starter, there’s still a window for Waldrep to break camp in the rotation.
But if they do bring in someone like Bassitt or Giolito, that window likely slams shut. It’s not a reflection of Waldrep’s talent - it’s a numbers game, one that could leave one of the team’s most promising young arms watching from Gwinnett to start the year.
For a team with legitimate World Series hopes, this is the kind of depth problem you want - too many capable arms, not enough spots. But it also highlights the challenge of balancing long-term roster strategy with short-term performance.
Waldrep has shown he can help the Braves win now. Whether he gets that chance out of the gate in 2026 depends less on his arm and more on how the front office decides to manage the puzzle pieces around him.