The Braves keep running into the same problem: one ace, and then too many questions behind him.
That issue showed up again in 2026, when injuries knocked Atlanta’s rotation off track and left the club without a dependable second starter next to Chris Sale. Even after the trade deadline, the Braves still didn’t land the kind of impact arm that would have clearly changed the picture.
MLB.com’s Jason Foster pointed to that exact shortcoming, writing, “There are well-documented reasons why the Braves were in the market for a frontline starter at the Trade Deadline. Though they added a depth piece in Tyler Mahle, they didn't land the type of clear difference-maker that many fans wanted.
As the team heads down the stretch, there's now even more scrutiny on a few things: the lack of a potent 1-2 punch for the postseason, their bullpen's durability and the rotation's overall dependability,"
Looking ahead to 2027, the same rotation concerns are still hanging over Atlanta. SI’s Harrison Smajovitts noted that Sale is the one sure thing, while Bryce Elder and Grant Holmes also appear to be in the mix. Beyond that, the Braves are once again facing uncertainty.
That’s why Sports Illustrated’s Will Laws has Atlanta going after Sonny Gray.
Gray brings the kind of track record that fits the Braves’ need for stability. Laws wrote, “Not many pitchers of Gray’s age can command a multi-year deal, but he might just do it after recording a 2.72 ERA for the Red Sox and leading MLB in wins (18).
Gray is dependable as they come, being one of just six pitchers to hurl at least 160 innings in each of the last four seasons. The wily veteran has shown a propensity for pitching in a variety of different environments, and though his strikeout numbers shrank last season, he hasn’t logged a below-average FIP since 2016.
The question is when Father Time will catch up with him,”
Gray was one of the most productive starters in 2026, finishing with 18 wins, tops in MLB. The right-hander has pitched for multiple teams over the course of his career, including the New York Yankees.
In Other News...
Braves May Be Headed For An Offseason Fans Never Expected
The Braves are staring at an offseason that could look a lot different than the one fans had in mind, with the clubs recent slide forcing a harder look at the roster than anyone expected a few months ago. The conversation is no longer just about minor tweaks or depth moves. It has drifted into the kind of broader roster reshaping that usually only comes up when a team feels a real need to reset parts of its core.
Among the names being discussed are Ronald Acua Jr. and a group of prospects that includes JR Ritchie, Cam Caminiti, Eric Hartman and Tate Southisene. Atlanta is not seriously planning to move Acua, but the possibility of at least listening if an overwhelming offer surfaced is part of the backdrop now, which tells you how wide the range of this winter could be. The prospect side of the discussion is just as revealing, because the Braves would be weighing present help against future value in a way that could define the next phase of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Earnings Report Reveals One Key Test For New Broadcast Plan
Atlanta Braves Holdings latest earnings report offered a first look at how the clubs new broadcast setup is settling in after a quarter that ended Sept. 30. Baseball-related revenues rose 4% to $295.5 million from a year ago, helped by a home schedule that included 42 games and drew an average of 26,998 fans per date, a reminder that the on-field product and the ballpark experience still drive the business in a big way.
The more interesting test, though, is still ahead. Media revenues dipped 4% in the quarter as the teams new BravesVision subsidiary handled broadcasts and streaming duties, and the company is now trying to prove that the switch can perform on the same level as the old arrangement over the full year. For a franchise that has spent years building around both its baseball brand and its media reach, the next stretch will say plenty about whether this new model can hold up financially. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Still Face One Big Ozzie Albies Question
The Braves have already taken care of one part of Ozzie Albies future by exercising his team option for 2027, giving the second baseman a measure of security in a season where the roster around him could still be in flux. For Atlanta, that matters because Albies has been a central piece of the clubs core for years, and any discussion about his place in the lineup carries extra weight when the front office is thinking about how to keep the window open.
Even with the option picked up, Albies situation is not exactly settled in the long view. His offensive struggles have prompted speculation that the Braves could look at moving him as part of a broader effort to reshape the core, and his future could still end up being decided by a trade or by free agency next offseason. For now, the contract is in place, but the bigger question around his role in Atlanta remains very much alive. [Read more 🡒]