The Braves keep running into the same wall, and it starts on the mound. Over the last couple of seasons, Atlanta’s rotation hasn’t been undone by a lack of talent so much as a lack of availability.
The arms have been good enough in stretches. They just haven’t stayed on the field long enough to give the club the kind of steady fifth-day rhythm a contender needs.
That uncertainty is hanging over 2027, too. The Braves still have plenty to sort out, especially when it comes to which starters will actually be healthy and ready to contribute.
As The Athletic’s Jesus Cano put it: “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.
There is at least one encouraging sign. Spencer Strider is expected to be ready by Spring Training, which would give Atlanta a major lift if he’s on track from the start of the season. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos said via Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Spencer Strider on track to be ready for spring/start of the season,”
Even with that potential boost, the Braves still need more help. That’s why ESPN’s Jeff Passan sees Sonny Gray as the kind of addition Atlanta should chase.
Passan pointed to the need to keep pace in a division that could be loaded with quality arms, and while he noted Tyler Mahle as a useful fit alongside Chris Sale down the stretch, he made clear Gray is the cleaner answer. “But in a division primed to be loaded with good arms, Atlanta needs to keep up.
That might mean right-hander Tyler Mahle, who served as a worthy complement to ace Chris Sale down the stretch. But this isn't about the moves the Braves are willing to make.
It's about what would be ideal. And in this case, as good as Mahle was, there's another righty whose fastball sits in the low 90s and still finds ways to keep runs off the board.
Sign right-handed starter Sonny Gray,” Passan wrote.
Gray makes sense for more than one reason. He’s been steady for years, and he just turned in another strong season in the rotation.
He also grew up near Atlanta, which has made him a familiar name whenever the Braves’ pitching needs come up. Before hitting free agency, Gray had been pitching on a $75 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious. The rotation needs reliability, and Gray has built his reputation on exactly that.
He has been the kind of starter who takes the ball consistently and gives his team a chance to win every time out. This past season, he was tied with Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Christopher Sanchez for the American League lead in wins.
That kind of dependability would matter for a Braves staff that has been battered by injuries. Gray would give Atlanta another stable option, ease some of the pressure on the rest of the rotation, and add a proven right-hander to work alongside Chris Sale. With pitching coach Jeremy Hefner also in the mix, the Braves would have another chance to squeeze value out of a veteran arm.
In Other News...
Braves Add A Familiar Name With One Big Question Attached
The Braves have added a familiar name to the conversation at Gwinnett, bringing in Freeman as a possible depth piece who can move around the diamond and give the organization some flexibility. Over five major league seasons, he has shown enough athletic traits to keep getting looks, including speed, arm strength and a bat that can put the ball in play, even if the overall production has not yet matched the tools.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious enough at the margins: a backup option who can cover multiple spots and help fill out a roster when injuries or matchups start to pile up. The question is whether Freeman can turn those scattered flashes into something more dependable, especially with the defensive challenges that have followed him and the lack of strong performance metrics to point to so far. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Plan May Not Be Over After Evan Phillips Deal
The Braves have already made one notable bullpen move by signing Evan Phillips to a three-year contract, but the work in the late innings may not be finished. According to reporter Francys Romero, Atlanta is also showing interest in bringing back closer Raisel Iglesias, a familiar arm who remains one of the more established ninth-inning options on the market.
Iglesias drew interest from multiple teams, including the Braves and Detroit Tigers, after a strong 2026 season in which he posted a 2.55 ERA and saved 34 games. For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious: adding Phillips and potentially keeping Iglesias would give the club a deep, proven bullpen core with Robert Suarez in the mix, and it suggests the front office is still weighing how aggressive it wants to be in fortifying the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Shortstop Buzz Comes With More Risk Than Fans Realize
The Braves have already made one notable bullpen addition this offseason in right-hander Evan Phillips, but the bigger roster question still hanging over them is shortstop. That uncertainty has kept Atlanta tied to trade chatter, and the name that keeps surfacing is Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, a player who would instantly change the conversation if he were to become available.
Hendersons appeal is obvious because he could give the Braves a temporary answer at a premium position, but the fit comes with real risk. His recent offensive dip has raised questions about how much of the decline is tied to injuries, and his arbitration eligibility only adds another layer of cost and control concerns for Atlanta if the front office decides to pursue a deal. [Read more 🡒]