The Braves struggled through a difficult season on offense last year amid another lost season for superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. and a number of down seasons all around the lineup. The club still managed to win 89 games and make it to the postseason on the back of its excellent rotation, however. Headed into 2025, that rotation has lost two key pieces: southpaw Max Fried and right-hander Charlie Morton.
Both departing pitchers had down seasons relative to their career norms last year, with Fried’s 3.25 ERA being a bit of a step back from his ace-level production of previous years while Morton clocked in right around league average. Even so, both were key pieces of the club’s rotation last year from a volume perspective. The pair combined for 59 starts and 339 2/3 innings in 2024, and they joined Chris Sale as the only three pitchers in the Atlanta rotation last year to throw even 140 innings.
That led to plenty of speculation early in the offseason that the club would be in the market for starting pitching help, with at least a back-of-the-rotation veteran to help eat innings widely expected to be a priority. That didn’t end up coming to fruition, however, despite a reported pursuit of Jeff Hoffman as a potential convert to the rotation that ultimately fell apart due to concern over Hoffman’s medicals. With Spring Training just over the horizon, the Braves have yet to make any sort of additions to their pitching staff with outfielder Jurickson Profar being the club’s only major free agent signing of the winter.
Even after losing one of the better pitchers in the sport in Fried, the club still has one of the highest-ceiling rotations in the majors. Reigning NL Cy Young award winner Sale leads the group coming off a season where he won the NL Triple Crown award and got his career back onto a potential Hall of Fame track after struggling to stay healthy with the Red Sox in recent years. He eventually figures to pair at the top of the club’s rotation with hard-throwing righty Spencer Strider, who missed almost all of last season due to internal brace surgery but struck out an incredible 36.8% of opponents in 2023 en route to a fourth-place finish in Cy Young voting. Reynaldo Lopez is the club’s number three starter on paper after posting a 1.99 ERA in 26 appearances (25 starts) last year in his first season as a full-time starter since 2020. Spencer Schwellenbach delivered solid mid-rotation production in 21 starts as a rookie last year with a 3.35 ERA in 123 2/3 innings of work.
It’s a front four that’s hard to argue with from a talent perspective, but it’s difficult to ignore the many health question marks at play here. Sale was nothing short of elite last year but combined for just 151 innings of work in the four years prior to 2024 and ended the season unable to pitch in Atlanta’s postseason run due to back issues. Strider, of course, is coming off elbow surgery and is not even expected to be ready for the start of the season. Lopez had previously last topped 66 innings back in 2019, while Schwellenbach pitched in relief during his college days and had never made more than 16 starts or thrown more than 65 innings in a season prior to last year, leaving questions about whether or not either can handle a full slate of 30+ starts in 2025.
All of that makes an innings-eating veteran addition seem like an option, to say nothing of how valuable a more reliable mid-rotation arm like Nick Pivetta could be for the club. Pivetta, Andrew Heaney, Jose Quintana, Spencer Turnbull, and Kyle Gibson are among a number of noteworthy starting pitching options still available in free agency, while the trade market holds options such as Marcus Stroman and Jordan Montgomery who could be had for minimal return outside of salary relief. Pivetta and Gibson in particular would immediately become the most reliable source of innings on Atlanta’s entire staff if signed, but any of them would raise the floor of a volatile rotation group.
With that being said, it’s worth noting that the club is deep in potential starting options beyond their top four, despite none of those players being proven at the big league level at this point. Grant Holmes, 29 next month, was excellent for the Braves in a swing role last year as a rookie. Ian Anderson was one of the club’s best arms during their 2021 World Series run and won’t turn 27 until May, though he didn’t pitch in the majors in either of the last two seasons. AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep are both entering their age-22 and -23 campaigns respectively and have pedigree as former top-100 prospects who could easily break out with more reps at the big league level, Bryce Elder was an All-Star in 2023 despite a rough 2024 season, and even more depth is available in the form of Dylan Dodd and Davis Daniel.
That’s a list of potential fifth starter options that’s seven names deep, including two players with successful seasons as wire-to-wire MLB starting pitchers under their belts, a player who produced in a limited rotation look last year, and two well-regarded young arms who have been ranked among the organization’s best prospects in recent years. Most clubs would love to have that sort of depth in competition for the final spot in their rotation, but given the history of health issues and lack of reliable innings that permeate the rest of Atlanta’s rotation, even that deep cache of arms might not be enough to let the Braves keep up with the Phillies and Mets in a highly competitive NL East division.
There’s also the financial component to consider. RosterResource puts the club’s competitive balance tax number a bit above $230MM, just over $10MM shy of the $241MM base threshold. While they have some willingness to pay the tax again this year, they may not consider the available arms enough of an upgrade over their internal options to justify going beyond the line right now.
What do MLBTR readers think? Does Atlanta have enough internal pitching options to make it through the season, or at least until trade season resumes over the summer? Have your say in the poll below:
The site is called mlb TRADE rumors and you didn’t bifurcate between free agent signing and trade to add a starter. Gotta know your customers.
/ˈbīfərˌkāt/
1) (verb) – divide into two branches or forks.
“just below Cairo the river bifurcates”
2) (adjective) – forked; branched.
“a bifurcate tree”
Yes, so there are 2 paths to acquire a starting pitcher: path 1: trade, path 2: free agency. Maybe it’s not the correct use for the grammar police, but same idea.
No grammar police. I needed the help, but I may not have been the only one. Nice use of it.
Some snakes have bifurcated tongues.
Most politicians do.
Last time I bifurcated was when I mixed tequila and wine after housing five jr bacons
Sorry I missed it. Not.
Brunansky you animal. My couch has never been the same after that bifurcation.
You seem slow
Did you just discover this site or
Nah, I’ve been here since the beginning when the name of the site matched the content.
You’re welcome to leave if it bothers you so much.
Oh, cool, thanks for letting me know!
Every team in mlb history has needed another starter.
This is the only correct answer
Doesn’t every team? Always.
All depends on how long Spencer strider will be out; Braves have Bryce Elder; Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes along with several others that could hold spots down for a while. Also Atlanta needs to know what they have with about 3-4 pitchers those 3-4 need to either get it together or organization needs to move on from them
I think using those three and seeing who can stick is a good idea. I’m not expecting anything of Anderson, but Holmes and Elder deserve chances. Plus, they could have Hackenberg and Salinas knocking at the door if they do well in AAA.
They have given Elder enough chances. I think they know what he is, a slightly better Yonny Chirios. Who is now pitching in Korea. Elder fell apart in the 2nd half of 2023 and didn’t do much last year from my recollection.
Chirinos, not Chirios, a million apologies for misspelling Yonny’s last name.
I somewhat agree. I don’t think first half 2023 Elder is coming back, but I think they should give him a chance in the first half. Let him sink or swim. If he keeps floundering, then you move on without regrets to the next system arm needing to prove themselves. Like Salinas or Hackenberg, and also giving those younger guys some more experience in AAA.
The Braves will sign Gibson or Heaney before opening day
I was thinking Heaney reunion, of sorts, with AA on the east coast.
Stroman is available
Just take over his salary
No one wants that negative asset without compensation
waiting for the Trevor Bauer freaks in 10, 9, 8…
Teams are all crazy not to sign him, he’s an ace willing to play for nothing. The league is wrong to blackball him.
Luke you are wrong.
Bauer: First full season was in 2014 and from then until 2017, he was below average, with an ERA of 4.29.
Bauer: Cy Young winner in 2020, courtesy of 11 starts. 11. And only one against a good team, the Atlanta Braves.
Bauer: Every clubhouse that has housed him, hates him. He’s thrown fits against managers, and he’s the poster child for “sticky stuff.” Not that he’s the only one that was using it to increase spin, but he literally was outwardly promoting it.
This is all without mentioning the position he put himself in with women. Stop pretending this guy could make a damn difference. The clubhouse would hate him, and without sticky stuff or a 2020 lineup of weak opponents, he is nothing more than average.
The only people whose heads Trevor Bauer lives in more than his cult fanbase freak defenders is the dweebs who obsess over those freaks lol
Those “dweebs” have the right to think badly about the freak defenders who look worse for thinking he’ll still have a chance of playing in MLB.
When you say someone “won’t turn 27 until May,” doesn’t this mean he will turn 27 in May?
He May, or May not.
Thanks for the clarification. 🙂
That’s why I am here.
To answer your original query, yes Bluey.
Thank you Bandit Heeler
crikey
They don’t make the point, that I saw, that both Holmes and Ian are out of options, so whomever they add would need to be better than the possibility of giving Holmes/Ian an opportunity for a small contract, and be stay under the 10M tax thresh-hold, while leaving some room for in-season moves that AA won a WS (2021) doing.
Holmes looked good in those 7 GS. If he were a Met, they’d make him the #2 starter by Mets fans, based on their undying love for Luisangel’s 14-game cup of coffee where he overperformed his career MiLB #.
Remembering back to when Holmes was the Next Big Thing for the Dodgers. Wonder if he’s finally found it?
Holmes beat Ali in 1980.
Seem to recall Holmes being involved in a deal for Rich Hill and that pr1@k Josh Reddick….
Yes he was, but not recalling Reddick the way you are apparently. I’m remembering him as playing a mediocre RF. Or was that a pun?
“Holmes looked good in those 7 GS. If he were a Met, they’d make him the #2 starter by Mets fans, based on their undying love for Luisangel’s 14-game cup of coffee where he overperformed his career MiLB #.”
Lmao Mets living rent-free in your head
lol…always. Need a little spice for the new season. Looking forward to seeing Soto back in the NLE for the rivalry.
When did the Mets last win a championship? Haha
1986. You can Google stuff like that, it’s more efficient than asking people here.
Isn’t it ironic a Braves fan is saying Acuna isn’t very good and Holmes would be #2 starter when we signed Holmes to be our number 5. At least your good with your team being to cheap to pay a little luxury tax.
Assuming the plan is to once again manage the amount of innings Sale and Lopez throw, then yes, Atlanta needs one more starting pitcher. Waldrep is probably better suited as a reliever in the long run, and Elder is better suited for AAA.
You may be right about Waldrep in the long-term, but I don’t think I would wave the white flag on his starting career just yet. Elder might be worth a move to the pen already, though. I do agree that at this point, he’s just a AAAA type as a SP.
Yes
No
Maybe so
They should let Ian Anderson compete for the final spot.
Heaney would be the ideal as they need another lefty
Yes, they absolutely do. That rotation is injury prone.
Trade Strider & Acuna to the Dodgers for May, Gonsolin, Outman, Pages, Muncy, Bobby Miller, and Dave Roberts.
Then sign Justin Turner to manage the Dodgers.
Yes. They need one before opening day. In this close of a division, they don’t have time to wait and see how internal options will pan out. While they are waiting, they could be left in the dust. For sure need another quality starter by the opener. Maybe at the deadline, go after a more elite type starter to get through the playoffs.
If you have to ask the question, the answer is almost always yes.
Quintana and Sale together again….but with much better offense.
I’m going to pick Quintana & Heaney as my next two picks in my slow draft. Keeping my fingers crossed that they’re available.
Sometimes you have to remember too many appetizers can ruin your meal.
Pivetta is who i would pick. Losing Morton and Fried and hoping for health from strider (and Sale for that matter), while also hoping Lopez doesn’t regress too much says this team could benefit from another proven arm
Wow, Mahomes sure threw the game.
Reminds me of the 5th inning, where the series was handed to the dodgers in game 5.
Didn’t even read the article, scrolled down, clicked yes.
Every team in MLB could use another starter.
UPDATE: Just read the article. Still yes
Depth is here. He might not be on the roster by end of the year but cc is a midseason call next year.
Rider and Waldrep are better options available than most have already.
Wrong question, in my opinion. I believe the Braves need another quality reliever much more than they need another starter. Jimenez won’t be back until this summer, or maybe not at all this year.
It’s a 90 win team as built. Let the kids battle for the 5th spot and save the $ for upgrades at the deadline.
just my opinion but I like grant holmes in that 5th spot, he’s a bulldog and I think he could be a strength in a weakness the braves have had in the past few years. The rotation will not be a problem, the braves season will depend on whether or not the offense can bounce back. But add a reliever, in case Pilar isn’t as good as he was in the Dominican league.
Banking on sale as your number 1 with strider still coming back and not much depth seems like a fools errand. They need someone else. Even pivetta would be a good add. If nothing else, he gives you innings.
Sale – health risk
Lopez – unlikely to repeat career year
Schwellenbach – sophomore season
Holmes and Anderson – question marks
Strider – TBD
Too many things needing to go right for a team that barely snuck in last year and is losing their #2.
100% yes and anyone who disagrees is insane to believe otherwise. Money is the only reason why the wouldn’t “need” another starter right now.
methinks a lot of you are glass half empty types. the braves had the 2nd best pitching staff in baseball last year. Will they regress, sure yeah, but I don’t think by alot. You replace fried with strider, Morton with holmes. Jimenez was a blow, but can daysbel or anderson pilar step up? I’d say #5 or #6 staff in baseball. then go make some trades at the deadline (please aa). now if the offense can improve from #16 in baseball to maybe top 10? 5? you got a team there.
No, starters are overpriced and underworked. Build a solid BP because those overpriced princess starters only go 4 or 5 innings. They don’t have reliable guys like Ed Walsh, Joe McGinnity, Walter Johnson & Grover Alexander. anymore.
Just say the names Sale and Strider and the answer is yes.
With all the talk about the Padres listening to offers on Cease, the Braves could trade for him and extend him. A few projections show 5/125m. That would be around what they offered Fried. To keep under the luxury tax penalty, next year could be $8M with more of a backloaded approach.
Of course they need another starter. But are they willing to go over the luxury tax for the third straight year to get one?? Answer is no.
With Sale’a history and Strider coming off a surgery… YES. If they are sitting here in September and both Sale and Strider have had less than 20 starts they will have a tough time making the playoffs. I would have paid for Flaherty.