The Braves are heading into an offseason where the rotation has to be addressed, and the uncertainty stretches well beyond one winter. Injuries have kept turning the same area into a problem, and as the team looks toward 2027, only a few arms appear to have a clear path to a spot.
Chris Sale is the one sure thing at the top, and Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes are also expected to be in the mix. After that, the picture gets murky 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.
That uncertainty only deepens when looking at the bigger names. Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep were supposed to help stabilize things, but injuries kept all three from becoming reliable answers for 2027.
“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.
With that in mind, CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder has the Braves landing Trevor Rogers, a move that would give Atlanta another left-hander and some much-needed stability. Snyder pointed to Rogers as a fit who could help right away and, if the deal stretches long enough, eventually step into a larger role.
“The Braves were hit with a litany of pitching injuries last season and still won the division, but there are a ton of question marks here. Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach are on that list for sure, but what about Chris Sale?
He's heading toward his age-37 year and there's a club option for 2028 before he hits free agency. Grabbing Rogers here provides immediate help, depth and -- assuming it's a long-term deal -- an option to take over as the top lefty once Sale is out," Snyder wrote.
Rogers had a strong rebound with the Baltimore Orioles in 2025 before taking a step back this past season, when he finished 10-11. Even so, his profile still fits what Atlanta needs: a pitcher who can keep taking the ball and give the rotation some dependable innings.
He pitched last season on a $6.2 million contract with Baltimore, and the Braves could see him as a practical addition with a clear role. In a rotation that has been short on certainty, that kind of consistency stands out.
In Other News...
Ronald Acua Jr. Trade Talk Just Took A Dramatic Turn
Ronald Acua Jr. has been the kind of name that naturally sparks speculation whenever the offseason starts to take shape, especially with his contract situation and the usual churn that comes with roster-building. But multiple MLB insiders, including Jon Morosi and Jon Heyman, have now painted a very different picture, saying a trade involving Acua this winter is considered highly unlikely as the Braves continue to operate like a contender rather than a club looking to reset.
For Atlanta, the bigger takeaway is not just that Acua appears to be staying put, but that the team reportedly has no interest in opening the door to trade talks at all. Even with the usual noise that follows a star player, the Braves seem prepared to treat this as a non-starter, which only adds to the intrigue around how the front office plans to handle the rest of the offseason around him. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Face A Bigger Jurickson Profar Decision Than Fans Realize
Jurickson Profars status has quickly become more than a footnote for the Braves, and not just because of what he brings on the field. Atlanta now has to sort through the fallout of a player who has been suspended for performance-enhancing drugs in consecutive years, a situation that naturally pushes the conversation beyond roster fit and into trust, accountability and how the organization wants to handle the next step.
Alex Anthopoulos has already said the Braves need internal discussions about the matter, which is usually the clearest sign a front office is still weighing the full scope of a decision. For a team trying to plan ahead, the uncertainty around Profar only adds another layer, and the sense around the club is that his future in Atlanta is very much in doubt. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Revenue News Just Added More Tension To MLB Lockout Fight
The Braves status as MLBs only publicly traded team means their earnings calls often do more than just explain the bottom line. They also offer a rare window into how one franchise is navigating the leagues broader financial picture, and this weeks update arrived with the labor fight looming in the background. Chairman Terry McGuirk kept the discussion pointedly general, steering away from the kind of detailed labor talk that would only invite more questions as the sport heads toward another round of uncertainty.
What stood out was how carefully the financial message was packaged. The clubs report showed the kind of accounting nuance that has become familiar around team business updates, with one version of the numbers emphasizing a loss and another highlighting profitability on an adjusted basis. For Braves fans, it is another reminder that the teams public financial disclosures are now part of the larger MLB lockout conversation, even when the people presenting them are trying not to wade too far into it. [Read more 🡒]