In an offseason that’s already seen the Atlanta Braves bring in Ha-seong Kim (SS), Mike Yastrzemski (OF), and Robert Suarez (RP) as free agents, one might think the braves are about done with additions to the roster. As last year highlighted our issues with the starting rotation after watching 3 starters walk away after the 2023 season and relying on our young guys to fill the back end of the rotation. The Braves currently have 3 healthy starters going into 2026 and still need to bring in 1 Quality Starting Pitcher.
As it sits now, the Braves healthy rotation looks like the following:
- Chris Sale
- Spencer Strider
- Hurston Waldrep
We have 2 Solidified starting pitchers in Chris Sale and Spencer Strider. Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, and Reynaldo Lopez are all coming off significant arm injuries sustained in 2025, and the only healthy starter left is Hurston Waldrep (who pitched 9 solid starts last year).
If the Braves do not add a quality arm then they will run into a familiar situation as last year. I’ve looked at the remaining Free Agent market and have come up with 4 Starting Pitchers the Braves should target in Free Agency for 2026.
- Jose Quintana
- Ranger Suarez
- Zack Littell
- Michael Kopech
Jose Quintana – at 37, he’s a cheaper option but gives you quality starts. He’s signed multiple 1 year deals and probably can get him for a 1 or 2 year deal to let the hurt arms build up and to allow the younger arms to further develop. He won’t be seen as a long term solution but can help the team win now, which is what the Braves should be looking to do. He’s produced sub-4.00 ERA’s the last 4 seasons and helped the back end of the rotation for the NL leading Brewers in 2025. We should at least call his agent and kick the tires.
Ranger Suarez – Not as cheap as Quintana but younger and more of a long term deal guy I suppose. It would be even greater to sign him and have him pitch against the Phillies for years to come. An All-star in 2024 and back to back years of sub 3.5 ERA. His Strikeout per 9 is 8.3 for his career and limits the Home Runs hit off him. Teams like the Mets might be able to pay him more and the Phillies are sure to be in on the action as well but the Braves could add a rotational piece for years to come and he’s probably the best bang for buck talent left in the Free Agent pool.
Zack Littell – Traded last year to the Reds from the Rays and now in Free Agency as a 30 year old RHP. His SO/9 isn’t as high as Suarez but sitting in the 6’s is still pretty good. He’s played for 5 different teams so he might be looking for a multi-year deal. He wouldn’t cost as much as Suarez but the Braves could use him as a 3rd or 4th man in the rotation and with Chris Sale on the last year of his deal, the Braves should really look for someone who’s younger that can fill an empty rotation spot next year and the year after.
Michael Kopech – Kopech was moved to the bullpen in 2024 and followed suit in 2025. Injuries derailed his Starter potential for the White Sox and the Dodgers only wanted him for the bullpen but after a disappointing 2025, he may be a cheaper option to try and see if we can get some starts out of him to begin the year in case Schwellenbach or Grant Holmes are good to go yet. Then we might be able to move him to the bullpen when we have a fully healthy rotation. This is more of a gamble but a cheap gamble.
As it sits now, the Braves healthy rotation looks like the following:
- Chris Sale
- Spencer Strider
- Hurston Waldrep
The Braves really need to look into bringing in a Rotational starter whether it’s via Free Agency or Trades. The guys above I believe are worth bringing in to fill a need without having to send off farm guys to acquire anyone. With the Braves retooling and bringing back a lot of bats, if the arms hold up then they should be ready for another run at the division and potentially more.
-Robert
The Other Side of Sports 