The Braves Need To Make A Rotation Splash

"It's still not enough. They've ticked off shortstop and late-inning relief. Those were indeed key needs, but neither was as worrisome as the rotation. Injuries exposed Atlanta's lack of starting pitching depth in 2025. They haven't done anything to address that thus far, and they should be as motivated as any team in MLB to add a mid-rotation arm before Opening Day."

"The Braves will enter the season with a rotation that'd line up as , Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep and one of Reynaldo López or Grant Holmes. If they could push a "turn off injuries" button, they'd be in excellent shape. Every team wishes they could keep pitchers healthy, of course, but the Braves look particularly vulnerable. AJ Smith-Shawver underwent Tommy John surgery in June and isn't coming back until the second half at the earliest."

The Braves signed four free agents to eight-figure deals and added Mauricio Dubón, absorbing nearly $5MM in arbitration differences. The offseason activity departs from Alex Anthopoulos' prior patterns, including four contracts worth $10MM+ annually—more than the previous four winters combined. The moves strengthen shortstop and late-inning relief but do not resolve the pressing rotation concerns exposed by 2025 injuries. The projected rotation features Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep and either Reynaldo López or Grant Holmes, with AJ Smith-Shawver sidelined after Tommy John surgery. Limited track records and durability questions persist, and a mid-rotation addition remains necessary before Opening Day.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors