The 2025 season could start with some unexpected faces on the mound for the Atlanta Braves. With Max Fried and Charlie Morton gone, the Braves have a serious chunk of innings to replace in their rotation.
And while they have plenty of young arms ready to step up, there’s still a chance the team makes a late-offseason move to add a veteran arm. That is where Lance Lynn comes into play.
Could Lance Lynn Be a Fit for Atlanta?
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently predicted the Braves’ Opening Day rotation and included the 37-year-old right-hander, who hasn’t even signed with Atlanta yet.
That’s right, this is purely speculation, but it makes some sense. Lynn has been generating interest as a reliever this offseason, but he still has the ability to chew up innings early in the year.
Reuter sees him as a potential bridge until Spencer Strider returns from injury, possibly shifting into a long-relief role later in the season.
Now, let’s be real—Lynn isn’t the same pitcher he was in his prime. But he showed he still has something left in the tank last year with the Cardinals, putting up a respectable 3.84 ERA over 23 starts.
More importantly, he’s durable. And durability is exactly what the Braves need.
The Braves Rotation Is Full of Question Marks
The team lost roughly 320 innings from their rotation with Fried and Morton departing.
While Lynn can’t single-handedly fill that void, he’s a guy who can take the ball every fifth day and keep the bullpen from getting overworked. If the Braves do sign him, it’s likely he’d slot in as the No. 4 starter, at least in the early part of the season.
Reuter’s projected rotation included Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Grant Holmes alongside Lynn. But the competition for those spots is far from settled.
Young arms like AJ Smith-Shawver, Bryce Elder, Ian Anderson, Hurston Waldrep, Davis Daniel, and Dylan Dodd will all be pushing for a role.
Will the Braves Prioritize Experience or Upside?
At this point, it’s a waiting game. The Braves could roll with their youth movement, betting on high-upside prospects to step up.
Or they could decide to bring in a stabilizing veteran like Lynn to provide reliability and mentorship. Either way, the rotation to start the year could look very different by the time summer rolls around.
