The Braves’ ambitions for 2026 are clear: rebuild the spine of a roster that sputtered through depth issues, overworked arms, and underwhelming production at key positions. And if there’s one thing general manager Alex Anthopoulos has made clear, it’s that no stone will be left unturned this offseason.
Starting Pitching Isn’t a Want—It’s a Necessity
First and foremost, Anthopoulos is zeroing in on two foundational pillars: starting pitching and shortstop. Neither priority is surprising, but the scale of what Atlanta might undertake is eye-opening. As reported by FanSided’s Robert Murray, the Braves aren’t just shopping, they’re stockpiling. Anthopoulos reportedly noted that the team needs “a lot of relievers,” a telling phrase that highlights both last season’s attrition and the urgency to rebuild a bullpen that lost several core arms.
In total, the Braves cycled through a whopping 46 pitchers in 2025, with 31 of them primarily working in relief. That kind of turnover isn’t just unsustainable, it’s symptomatic of deeper structural problems. Injuries hammered the rotation, forcing the club to stretch thin across a 162-game campaign. There were moments when bullpen games became a necessity rather than a strategy, and at one point, all five Opening Day starters were on the 60-day IL. No pitcher hit the 30-start threshold. That’s not a fluke. That’s a five-alarm fire.
Rotation Depth Is the Only Insurance That Matters
And so, the shopping list is stacked. “Starting pitchers” (emphasis on the plural) are in the crosshairs, and the need for veteran innings-eaters has never been more pressing. Charlie Morton and Max Fried may not have been perfect, but they delivered over 165 innings apiece in 2025, consistency the Braves sorely missed.
The bullpen, meanwhile, has gaps that can’t be ignored. Raisel Iglesias is a free agent. Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley, who could have been retained for a combined $12 million, were both let go. Whether that’s a sign of confidence in internal replacements or a desire for flexibility on the open market remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: there will be new faces in the pen.
Shortstop Remains the Braves Offensive Blind Spot
Then there’s shortstop. Ha-Seong Kim’s exit after declining his player option reopened a wound that Atlanta briefly managed to stitch up. Offensively, shortstop was a black hole for the Braves before Kim’s arrival, and with limited free agents available, a trade might be the only path forward. Kim’s return is reportedly still an option, but if that doesn’t happen, Anthopoulos will need to get creative.
The 2026 Braves are shaping up to be a team in transition ,but not in retreat. The goals are aggressive, and the blueprint is unmistakable: rebuild the rotation, reinforce the bullpen, and find a shortstop who won’t crater the lineup. With clear direction and enough flexibility, Atlanta may once again position itself among the league’s elite.
